Noah Karunaratne

Last updated

Noah Karunaratne
Personal information
Full name Noah Karunaratne
Date of birth (2003-06-27) 27 June 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth New Zealand
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) [1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Christchurch United
Number 10
Youth career
–2021 Wellington Phoenix
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2023 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 46 (2)
2021Lower Hutt City (loan) 16 (1)
2022–2023 Wellington Phoenix 0 (0)
2024–2025 Eastern Suburbs 42 (5)
2025– Christchurch United 1 (2)
International career
2022–2023 New Zealand U20 8 (0)
2023 New Zealand U23 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 September 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 May 2023

Noah Karunaratne (born 27 June 2003) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a Midfielder for Southern League club Christchurch United.

Contents

Personal life

Karunaratne is the older brother of Wellington Phoenix player Seth Karunaratne. [2]

Club career

Wellington Phoenix

Karunaratne played for the Wellington Phoenix Academy, before making his debut for the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the 2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship against Tasman United picking up an assist. Karunaratne was named Wellington Phoenix Academy Men's Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season. [3] [4] On 3 August 2022, Karunaratne made his professional debut for the 'Nix first team, in an Australia Cup tie against Devonport City. [5] [6]

Eastern Suburbs

On 15 March 2024, Karunaratne signed for Northern League side Eastern Suburbs. [7] [8] He made his debut on 23 March 2024 against Bay Olympic in the Northern League. [9]

Christchurch United

Karunaratne signed for Christchurch United on 26 September 2025 for the championship phase of the National League. [10] He made his debut on 27 September 2025, where he scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Auckland United. [11] [12]

International career

On 1 September 2022, Karunaratne was called up to the New Zealand U20's for the 2022 OFC U-19 Championship. [13] He made his debut on 7 September 2022, in the opening group game against Cook Islands. [14] On 1 May 2023, he was called up for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. [15] [16] Karunaratne made three appearances at the World Cup as New Zealand made the Round of 16. [17]

Karunaratne was called up to the New Zealand U23's for the first time on 2 March 2023, for a two-game series against China. [18] [19] He played in both games, debuting on 23 March 2023. [20]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 27 September 2025. [21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOthersTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2019–20 Premiership 1010
2020–21 Premiership2020
2021 National League 2020
2022 National League231231
2023 National League181181
Total462000000462
Lower Hutt City (loan) 2021 National League16110171
Wellington Phoenix 2021–22 A-League Men 001010
Eastern Suburbs 2024 National League21120231
2025 National League21442256
Total425620000487
Christchurch United 2025 National League1212
Career total1051082000011312

    Honours

    New Zealand U20

    Individual

    References

    1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023 SQUAD LIST" (PDF). FIFA. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
    2. "2023 Men's National League – Week 1". theniche-cache.com. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    3. 1 2 "Foster and Zawada crowned players of the year". Wellington Phoenix. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    4. "Noah Karunaratne picks up the @wellingtonphoenixacademy Men's Player of the Year!". Wellington Phoenix. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025 via Instagram.
    5. "Australia Cup Review: Wellington Phoenix vs. Devonport City Strikers". Wellington Phoenix. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    6. James, Euan (3 August 2022). "Devonport City Strikers v Wellington Phoenix". Australia Cup. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    7. "📣 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝒀𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑰𝑮𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 - Noah Karunaratne". Eastern Suburbs. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025 via Instagram.
    8. "Introducing our 2024 Men's Premier Squad, consisting entirely of New Zealand players 🤝". Eastern Suburbs. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025 via Instagram.
    9. "STARTING XI". Eastern Suburbs. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025 via Instagram.
    10. "Welcome to The Rams, Noah Karunaratne! 💙🐏". Christchurch United. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025 via Instagram.
    11. "RESULTS: Saturday's winners, scorers and latest league tables". friendsoffootbalnz.com. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
    12. Robinson, Nick (30 September 2025). "2025 Men's National League – Week 1". theniche-cache.com. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
    13. "Squad named for OFC U-19 Championship 2022". New Zealand Football. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    14. "Cooks Islands v New Zealand". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    15. "Squad named for men's FIFA U-20 World Cup". New Zealand Football. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    16. "Get to know the Men's U-20 team". New Zealand Football. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    17. "New Zealand win opening game at FIFA U-20 World Cup". New Zealand Football. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    18. "Men's U-23 squad named for home games against China". New Zealand Football. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    19. "Reserves looking to evolve in 2023 Central League". Wellington Phoenix. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    20. Smith, Logan (23 March 2023). "New Zealand U-22s impress as they beat China 2-0 at Mt Smart Stadium". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    21. "N. Karunaratne". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
    22. "OFC U-19 Men's Championship 2022". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
    23. "Foster and Zawada crowned players of the year at Wellington Phoenix awards". friendsoffootballnz.com. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.