Tim Payne

DOB 10/1/94

Tim Payne joined the Wellington Phoenix ahead of Ufuk Talay’s maiden season in 2019.

The experienced All Whites defender started his youth career with Auckland City FC before moving across town to play for Waitakere United. After one season with the west Aucklanders Payne spent several months trailing with Blackburn Rovers, before signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the then Premier League team 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 where he excelled over the course of the season, but the team fell a point short of the finals.

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.

Tim Payne has played more than 30 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.

> 2023-24 season

Tim Payne cemented himself in the right back position for the 2023-24 season, regularly flying up the flank and providing consistent attacking output.

He scored his first A-League goal in his 93^rd game in the competition, firing home in a 5-2 win over Brisbane Roar.

Payne would end the season with three goals, four assists and a place in the PFA A-League Men’s team of the season.

He only missed four matches, due to a combination of suspension and a hamstring injury.

Tim Payne continued to represent his country, and was a member of the All Whites squad which won the OFC Nations Cup in June 2024.

He was also set to be an overage selection for the Paris Olympics, but missed the tournament due to an injury.