Auckland FC’s OFC Pro League squad continues to grow, with five new signings announced – including two players who scored in Saturday’s National League Grand Final between Auckland City and Wellington Olympic.
The new signings include Matt Ellis and Michael den Heijer, both of Auckland City, Isa Prins, from Wellington Olympic, along with Daniel Normann and Oscar Mason, from Western Springs AFC.
Ellis and Prins were both involved in the final, where Auckland City emerged victorious after a thrilling 2-2 draw went to penalties after 120 minutes of football.
Ellis opened the scoring with a header in the 81st minute, whilst Prins put Wellington 2-1 ahead in the 11th minute of extra time with a powerful near-post finish.
Normann and Mason can also look back on a positive season. Western Springs AFC topped the table of the Dettol Northern League.
Auckland’s OFC Pro League Head Coach, Luke Casserly, believes this talent will greatly contribute to the success of the squad.
“We’ve got an exciting lineup of players so far, and these boys will definitely help us with our first season in the new OFC competition,” says Casserly.
“They’ve proven themselves at one of the top levels of New Zealand football, so we know how capable they are, and I’ve got no doubt they’ll do well here at Auckland.”
The Pro League consists of eight teams across seven oceanic nations, competing against each other over five rounds before concluding in knockout finals. Last week, the first five players for this new competition were announced. More information can be found here.
The league will provide an opportunity for players to step up and experience playing football in a professional environment.
The league is set to commence on January 17th, with the first round of the competition being held at Auckland’s Eden Park. Tickets on sale here.
Oscar Mason
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 21
Nationality: New Zealand
Oscar Mason also joins from Western Springs, where he played every game in the previous Northern League campaign, which the side took out. Mason kept six clean sheets and helped his side to 13 wins out of a possible 22. He’s joining the club as both a player and a goal-keeping coach capacity, providing expertise in both. Mason has also represented New Zealand on the international stage, at U20 level.
Matt Ellis
Position: Winger
Age: 24
Nationality: New Zealand
Matt Ellis joins the club from Auckland City, who won the 2025 NZ National League with help from his opening goal in the Grand Final. Ellis played at the FIFA Club World Cup this year, making appearances against Portugal’s Benfica, and Argentina’s Boca Juniors. Ellis has won three Oceania Champions League titles with Auckland City since 2022, and he’s represented New Zealand at U23 level. Last season, Ellis made 22 appearances in National League competitions and even bagged a hattrick against Manurewa.
Isa Prins
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 20
Nationality: New Zealand
Isa Prins is a young talent joining from Wellington Olympic, who topped the group stage of the NZ National League. In the past season, Prins scored 20 goals across 30 games. He scored four goals in one game against Waterside Karori during the Central League season and scored in extra time during the National League Grand Final. Prins also scored and assisted twice in the Chatham cup final to help Olympic retain the cup, along with being named player of the match.
Daniel Normann
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 23
Nationality: Norway
Daniel Normann previously played for Western Springs AFC, who were very successful in their Northern League campaign, topping the table. Normann has played in Norway, USA, and New Zealand, and boasts a broad range of footballing experience. During his time in the USA, Normann won three conference championships with Missouri State.
Michael den Heijer
Position: Centre Back
Age: 29
Nationality: New Zealand
Michael den Heijer arrives from Auckland City. He’s won five Oceania Champions League titles, including their 2025 victory. Den Heijer also participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, appearing against Germany’s Bayern Munich, and Benfica. Den Heijer has represented New Zealand at U17 and U20 levels. As well as New Zealand he has played in Japan, the Netherlands and Germany.
