Football Ferns forward Paige Satchell has received a timely boost ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France by signing her first professional contract.

The 21-year-old from Three Kings United has signed with SC Sand in the Frauen-Bundesliga in Germany.

The pacey Satchell, who is hoping to be named in Tom Sermanni’s Ferns squad to attend her first FIFA Women’s World Cup, is pleased to have achieved a lifelong goal by turning professional.

“I’m super excited to have signed for SC Sand and am looking forward to this new chapter in my football journey,” she says. 

“It’s going to be a big change in environment and culture but I’m ready to embrace the challenge and further develop my football.”

Satchell, who has played 11 internationals for New Zealand and scored one goal, says it was important to find a club that is the right fit for her.

“This is my first professional football contract and I’m very happy to have signed for a good club and to have the opportunity to play in a top professional league such as the Bundesliga. I’m ready to push myself to get the most out of this opportunity.”

Satchell becomes the eighth player from the Future Ferns Domestic Programme (FFDP) to sign a professional contract, following in the footsteps of CJ Bott, Meikayla Moore, Jana Radosavljevic, Aimee Phillips, Katie Rood, Emma Rolston and Victoria Esson.

                                     Paige Satchell signing her first professional contract with SC Sand

FFDP manager Gareth Turnbull says having yet another player graduate to the professional game is a further endorsement of the programme and bodes well for the Football Ferns.

“Obviously everyone associated with the FFDP are incredibly stoked for Paige to secure a great professional contract with a top club in one of the most competitive European leagues,” he says.  

“We are fortunate to see the daily work that Paige has put in over the past three years, which has included working her way back to her best after tearing her ACL in the middle of 2017 which resulted in her missing the best part of nine months of football development.”

Turnbull says the timing of this contract is perfect for Satchell as she is now ready to progress onto the professional level.

“We are confident the environment will elevate her performances to the next level. We are all excited to see future high-standard performances from Paige at the FIFA Women’s World Cup later in the year and for many years to come in the Football Ferns shirt.”

Satchell is quick to pay tribute to the role the FFDP has played in her development.

“The FFDP has been a good platform, giving me the skills and support as a player that are necessary to move to the next level in my football career,” she says.

“I’m grateful for all the experience FFDP has offered me to get me to this point, developing me into a better player.”

Article added: Thursday 18 April 2019