Former Wellington Phoenix defender Sam Sutton has crossed the Distance Derby divide, signing with Perth Glory on a three-year deal.
The 23-year-old New Zealand international left the Phoenix in mid-May after a near-decade spent at the club. Sutton joined Wellington’s academy at the age of 14 and went on to play 98 Isuzu UTE A-League games in yellow and black, but called time on his Phoenix stint after six seasons in the senior squad.
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Capped five times by the All Whites, Sutton debuted for New Zealand’s senior international side in 2024, with his first three caps coming in New Zealand’s OFC Nations Cup triumph.
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The left-back is the first new arrival at Glory since the end of the club’s 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, in which David Zdrilic’s side collected the wooden spoon for the second consecutive season.
Trent Ostler, Luke Amos and Lachie Wales have all re-signed for the club since the end of the regular season, while Jaylan Pearman, Anas Hamzaoui, Lachie Barr, Patrick Wood (end of loan) and Riley Warland have all departed following the expiration of their respective contracts.
“I decided to sign for Perth for many reasons,” Sutton said.
“Firstly, I’ve been there many times and it’s definitely my favourite city in Australia, but more importantly, the passion, belief and ambition I got from David Zdrilic and (Glory football director) Stan Lazaridis was the key determining factor.
“Their hunger to win trophies matches mine, and I’m eager to start the season already.
“I believe in the calibre of players we are keeping and the ones we intend to bring in, and hope we can win some silverware.”
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