Alex Paulsen

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I was born in Auckland, and football was always around growing up, but I started out playing futsal. I didn’t fully commit to football until I was around 13. I began as an outfielder, but after trying my hand at goalkeeping, something just clicked, and I’ve been between the sticks ever since. 

Futsal was my first love, and I played it all through childhood. It gave me good footwork, which is important as a goalkeeper. But at 13, I decided to make the switch to full-time football, and that’s when things took off. I played for Onehunga Sports in the youth ranks under Hiroshi Miyazawa, a great coach. That experience helped me a lot. 

In 2018, when I was 15, I moved to Wellington to join the Phoenix Academy. Onehunga Sports had a partnership with the Phoenix, so I followed the pathway of players like Sarpreet Singh and Max Mata. It was a big move for me, but it was exactly what I needed to step up my game. 

I was a regular on the bench for the reserves in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, but I didn’t get much game time. I played for affiliate clubs Wellington United and Lower Hutt City in the Central League to keep my development going. My first reserve start didn’t come until November 2020, in a match against Team Wellington. Even though we lost 1-0, that game gave me confidence. I ended up playing consistently that season and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, which was a big boost.  

In 2021, I signed my first professional deal with the Wellington Phoenix, alongside Ben Old, another reserve standout. I entered the 2021-22 A-League season as the second-choice goalkeeper behind Oli Sail, the club captain. I made my A-League debut in December 2021, coming on as a sub after Oli got injured. It was a 2-1 loss against Sydney FC, but it was a big moment for me. 

It was a big opportunity. When Oli moved to Perth Glory, I became the starting goalkeeper under our new head coach, Giancarlo Italiano. That season was incredible. We finished second in the league, our best finish ever, and had the fewest goals conceded in the club’s history. I played every minute, and at the end of the season, I won a bunch of awards—Members’ Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Under-23 Player of the Year, and A-League Men Goalkeeper of the Year. It felt like all the hard work had paid off. 

After that breakout season, I was called up to the A-League All Stars for a friendly match against Newcastle United. We ended up winning 8-0, which was a crazy result. A few weeks later, in June 2024, I signed with Premier League club Bournemouth. Moving to England and signing for a Premier League team was a dream come true. 

Coming back to New Zealand, especially with Auckland FC being a new team in the A-League, is exciting. I’m on loan from Bournemouth, and I’m here to get consistent game time and help Auckland FC make an impact in their debut season. It’s great to be back home, and I’m motivated to perform well. 

Representing New Zealand has always been special for me. I played for the U-23 team at both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, and both were amazing experiences. It’s always a privilege to wear the New Zealand shirt. I made my senior debut in June 2024, keeping a clean sheet against the Solomon Islands in the OFC Nations Cup. That was a proud moment, and I’m hoping to continue building my international career. 

Right now, I’m focused on helping Auckland FC in their first season in the A-League and getting as much experience as I can.