Wellington Phoenix youngster Matt Sheridan has signed an upgraded three-year contract with the Isuzu UTE A-League club.
Sheridan – an academy graduate – is the first Phoenix player to re-sign beyond the 2026-27 season, having been initially promoted to the A-Leagues squad on a two-year scholarship deal in December.
The 20-year-old’s fresh contract is on professional terms after her made four appearances during Wellington’s historic run to last season’s Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final.
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Meanwhile, young Phoenix goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald has also signed an upgraded contract to pro terms after he joined on a four-year scholarship contract in December.
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“It was a pretty easy decision,” said Sheridan, who switched to full-back in 2022 having spent his junior career in midfield. “I grew with the team and the club last year and everyone saw how well we did.
“It’s obviously a lot easier when you’re winning games and there’s a good vibe around the team and training.
“We’re looking to do that again this year, just keep developing as a team and individually I want to keep working on myself.
“This season I want to pick up as many minutes and starts as possible and in the future I want to be regular starter for the Phoenix.”
The news of pro deals for Sheridan and Kelly-Heald come after the arrivals of Marco Rojas, Paulo Retre, Luke Brooke-Smith, Josh Oluwayemi, Kazuki Nagasawa, Dublin Boon (scholarship contract) and Hideki Ishige.
Kosta Barbarouses has also re-signed for Giancarlo Italiano’s Phoenix.
Of the 22-man squad to date, 18 are now on full professional contracts, with four on scholarship deals.
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“Shez joined us late last year and he really grew as the season went on,” Italiano said.
“He has lot of ability and I think if he can get some consistent minutes this season and work his way into being a starter he has a really promising career ahead of him.
“Shez is fast, has great endurance, and he’s technically very good.
“He can play right-back, he can play as a six, he can also play as a winger and potentially even as a 10.
“He matches the sort of player that I want that can play across a number of positions.”
