Nathan Walker

DOB 30/1/06

Nathan Walker signed a four-year contract with the Wellington Phoenix two weeks into the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.

Walker played for Bucklands Beach AFC, Onehunga Sports, Auckland United and Fencibles United before joining the Phoenix academy at the start of 2024.

The winger was thrust into the Nix starting XI for the A-League season opener against Western United and didn’t look out of place in an unfamiliar wingback role.

“Walks was thrown in the deep end and did very well against Western United and did well when he came on against Perth too,” Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano said.

“He’s very quick, he has good endurance and stamina and he’s dangerous with the forward runs he makes.

“Walks is playing as a wing back at the moment because that’s the only width in our current formation, but that allows him to be a little bit more expressive because he’s got four defenders around him.

“I could see him being a potential winger, a 10 or even a nine for the Phoenix, so he’s another player with plenty of upside.”

> 2023-24 season

Nathan Walker featured in all three of New Zealand’s group matches at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Indonesia in November before joining the Phoenix academy.

Walker scored four goals in 16 matches for the men’s reserves in the 2024 Central League, including a brace in a 3-1 win over Island Bay in May.

He started the Australia Cup defeat to South Melbourne in August after being a key member of the New Zealand side which won the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in July without conceding a goal.