Wellington Phoenix have bolstered their goalkeeping stocks for the 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League season, re-signing academy product Henry Gray on a season-long loan from Premier League side Ipswich Town.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper returns to Wellington three years after leaving the Phoenix to sign a long-term deal with Ipswich, where he has featured for the club’s Under-21 side while gaining senior experience on loan with Chelmsford City, Braintree Town and most recently League Two outfit Harrogate Town.
Gray also represented New Zealand at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile last year, starting all three matches before later earning a call-up to the All Whites.
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Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre believes Gray returns as a far more complete goalkeeper after his time in England.
“We’re delighted to have Henry back at the Phoenix,” Greenacre said.
“He’s played close to 100 games of first team football now so will be right up there with any young goalkeeper in the A-League.
“He’s at a fantastic club in Ipswich Town and he’s been on loan to a few clubs and really learnt his trade.
“The pressure he was under at Harrogate Town in particular, who were struggling for their survival in League Two, was immense.
“Henry showed some real promise in difficult circumstances and they’ve made him a stronger character, stronger leader and stronger professional, which will benefit us.”
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Gray will compete with Alby Kelly-Heald and Eamonn McCarron for the number one jersey, with Greenacre welcoming the increased competition within his squad.
“Henry will add real competition for our ‘keepers and we’ve got a young goalkeeping cohort, but under some brilliant, top class guidance from Paul Gothard, who has a reputation of bringing young goalkeepers on.
“We’ve got three goalkeepers who will be scrapping really hard for that number one jersey.
“They’ll compete, they’ll push each over hard on a daily basis and when you have competition for places like that it brings the best out of everyone.”
Gray said the opportunity to work under Greenacre again played a significant role in his decision to return to Wellington.
“I worked with Greeny at the FIFA U-20 World Cup last September and I loved every single minute of it,” Gray said.
“I left the academy almost as soon as he joined as head coach of the men’s reserves, but I got to work with him properly at the World Cup and all the matches leading up to the tournament.
“I had such a good time training under Greeny and I’m looking forward to playing under him for a full season.”
The young goalkeeper also revealed the return of respected goalkeeping coach Paul Gothard made the move an easy decision.
“When I found out Goffy was coming back it was a no brainer to come to Wellington on loan and play a season here.
“He’s very respected. I’ve worked under him for such a long time. He was my main goalkeeper coach growing up and he’s pretty much my dad in that department.
“He got me to where I am today and I’ve gone away and worked with some people in England that are excellent goalkeeper coaches, but being able to work with Goffy again is perfect.”
Gray also reflected on his previous spell with the Phoenix first team during the 2021-22 campaign, when he joined the squad in Sydney as a teenager.
“It was quite surreal when I found out I was going over. I was just planning to have Christmas with my family and then that changed quite quickly as Oli [Sail] got injured.
“I got over there and after a couple of weeks I settled down and got along with all the lads really well.
“That season was a big one for me working with Goffy day-in, day-out as I was able to touch up a lot of aspects of my game.
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“If I could do that season all over again I’d do it in a heartbeat because it was one of my favourite seasons playing football.”
Gray becomes Wellington’s second signing of the off-season following the arrival of former Phoenix defender James McGarry, who joined from Brisbane Roar.
There have been plenty of exits following the end of the 2025/26 campaign including New Zealand international Tim Payne, who was signed by Paraguayan side Olimpia following a life-changing moment on social media that saw him gain more than five million followers thanks to the help of an Argentinian social media influencer during the FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile the club have also farewelled the likes of top scorer Ifeanyi Eze, defender Manjrekar James and goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi.
