Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 24 January 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Ostend, Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Sydney FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Marconi Stallions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | Western Sydney Wanderers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2019–2022 | Club Brugge | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2022–2024 | Benfica | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024–2025 | Benfica B | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025– | Sydney FC | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2023– | Australia U20 | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024– | Australia U23 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 July 2025 |
Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler (born 24 January 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Sydney FC in the A-League Men. Born in Belgium, he has represented Australia at youth international level.
Born in Belgium while his father, former Australian international soccer player Paul Okon was playing for Belgian Pro League club K.V. Oostende, Okon-Engstler moved to Australia as a child when his father signed for the Newcastle Jets. [2] He started his career, as his father had, with Marconi Stallions, before moving to A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. [2] In 2019, he moved back to Belgium, signing with Club Brugge. [2]
While representing Club Brugge at a youth tournament in Portugal, he was spotted by scouts from Benfica, despite Club Brugge's poor performances at the tournament. [3] He joined the Portuguese club in July 2022, signing a three-year deal. [3] [4] [5]
In July 2025, Okon-Engstler signed for A-League Men side Sydney FC on a three-year deal [6] .
Okon-Engstler is eligible to represent Belgium through birth, Australia through his father, and Italy through his mother. [2] He holds Italian citizenship. [7]
In September 2022, he was called up to the Australia under-20 team, but did not feature. [8]
He made his debut for the Australia under-23 team during the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament. [9]
A composed, left-footed defensive midfielder, Okon-Engstler is known for his range of long passes, and is capable of starting attacks from deep. [10]
Australia U-23
Australia U-20