Nathan Walker (footballer)

Last updated

Nathan Walker
Nathan Walker footballer.jpg
Walker playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2025
Personal information
Full name Nathan Barry Walker
Date of birth (2006-01-30) 30 January 2006 (age 19) [1]
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand [2] [3]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Phoenix
Number 41
Youth career
Bucklands Beach AFC
Onehunga Sports
2020–2021 Auckland United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2023 Fencibles United 24 (5)
2024– Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves 16 (4)
2024– Wellington Phoenix 24 (1)
International career‡
2023 New Zealand U17 3 (0)
2024– New Zealand U20 4 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
OFC U-19 Men's Championship
Winner 2024 Samoa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 May 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 December 2024

Nathan Barry Walker (born 30 January 2006) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a winger for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Men.

Contents

Early life

Walker was born in Auckland in 2006. His father is former New Zealand international cricketer Brooke Walker. [3] Walker played for Bucklands Beach AFC, Onehunga Sports, Auckland United, and Fencibles United before joining the Wellington Phoenix Academy in early 2024. [2] He was educated at Macleans College. [4]

Club career

After joining the Phoenix Academy, Walker made 16 appearances and scored four goals for the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the 2024 Central League. [1]

He made his senior Wellington Phoenix debut in an Australia Cup match against South Melbourne on 6 August 2024. The Phoenix lost 1–0 at Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne. [5]

Walker was unexpectedly called up to play his first A-League Men match on 20 October 2024 in a home match against Western United. Sam Sutton, Marco Rojas, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues and Stefan Colakovski were all unavailable to play, leading Phoenix manager Giancarlo Italiano to call up Walker to debut for the season opener. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. [6] On 31 October 2024, Walker signed a 4-year contract with the club, the first two of which are on scholarship terms. [2]

International career

Walker played in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup for New Zealand, playing in all three matches. [1]

In 2024, Walker was called up to the New Zealand under-19 squad to play in the OFC U-19 Men's Championship. [7] Walker played in four of the five matches, scoring one goal against Papua New Guinea, and winning the championship. [1]

Honours

New Zealand U20

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nathan Walker". Wellington Phoenix . Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nix secure young Auckland winger on multi-year deal". Wellington Phoenix . 31 October 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 Pisani, Sacha. "Wellington Phoenix sign 'one of Auckland's brightest talents' in latest Derby week jab". A-Leagues . Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  4. ↑ "Macleans College student gains selection for New Zealand U17 Football squad". Macleans College. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Academy players make first team debuts in Australia Cup". Wellington Phoenix . 7 August 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  6. ↑ Rollo, Phillip (21 October 2024). "Academy player Nathan Walker makes unexpected A-League Men debut for Wellington Phoenix". Stuff . Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  7. ↑ "Chris Greenacre Announces First Squad As New Zealand U-20 Head Coach For OFC Men's U19 Championship". New Zealand Football . 14 June 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
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