In a well-teased series of announcements on social media by Wellington Phoenix, a trio of All Whites have committed to the club.

Eight-cap All White Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi re-signed for the club on a two-year deal after enjoying a breakout 2019/20 season, making 11 appearances (including four starts). 

Meanwhile, Clayton Lewis and James McGarry have penned a one-year deals.

The Wellington-born midfielder Lewis played for Auckland City FC in the 2019/20 ISPS Handa Premiership, making nine appearances and scoring once, adding to his previous stint at the during which he made 29 appearances and netted nine times. The 14-cap All White signed for Scunthorpe United in 2017, then in England’s League One, and made 19 appearances for the Lincolnshire-based club. Signing for the Phoenix signals a return to his hometown club.

Defender McGarry spent his youth career playing for Southern United before moving to the Wellington Phoenix Academy. Between 2014 and 2018 he made two appearances for the first team and 52 in the ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership for the Phoenix Reserves. The one-cap All White then spent two seasons at Willem II in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, making six appearances, before returning to New Zealand.

Article added: Thursday 29 October 2020