Tim Payne

Tim Payne joined the Wellington Phoenix ahead of Ufuk Talay’s maiden season in 2019 and he is set to become just the seventh player to play 150 A-League matches for the club.

The experienced All Whites defender started his youth career with Auckland City FC before signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with then Premier League club Blackburn Rovers in 2012.

After more than 30 age-group appearances for Blackburn, he returned home briefly before joining Portland Timbers 2 in 2015. Payne played one season in the U.S. and has been based in New Zealand since.

Before he joined the Phoenix he spent three seasons playing for Eastern Suburbs and captained the Lily Whites to their first national title since 1971.

Payne was a regular at right back in his first A-League season, helping the club to its then highest regular season finish of third.

He started all 26 Phoenix matches in the 2020-21 season, leading the squad in minutes played. As the result of an injury to Luke DeVere, Payne played the majority of his games at centre back.

Payne again spent the majority of the 2021-22 campaign deputising at the heart of defence. Just eight of his 24 starts were at right back, with the Phoenix unbeaten in six of those games.

In February 2022, he re-signed with the club through until the end of the 2024-25 season.

He continued as a key player in the 2022-23 season, beginning at right back before moving back into a central defensive position.

Payne enjoyed his best campaign as a professional in 2023-24, ending the A-League with three goals, four assists and a place in the PFA men’s team of the season. His first goal was the first of his A-League career and came in his 93^rd game.

He has played more than 40 matches for the All Whites since making his debut in 2012. He has also represented New Zealand at under-17 and under-20 world cups, and at the London Olympics.

> 2024-25 season

Injuries limited Tim Payne’s involvement in his sixth season with the Wellington Phoenix.

He missed six matches, including four in January and played his fewest minutes since the 2019-20 campaign.

Despite the injury setbacks, Payne remained the All Whites’ first choice right back and helped New Zealand qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He signed a three-year contract extension with the Phoenix in December 2024, tying him to the club until the end of the 2027-28 season.