Accomplished Football Fern signs for Phoenix
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The Wellington Phoenix have added another international to the women’s squad for the upcoming 2026-27 A-League.
The Phoenix have signed Football Ferns forward Indiah-Paige Riley on a two-year deal.
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Riley, 24, has been a key player for the Ferns since switching allegiance from Australia four years ago and featured in all of New Zealand’s matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
She has also played in some of the top club competitions in Europe, having been on the books of DBK Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark, PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and most recently Women’s Super League club Crystal Palace in England, as well as boasting experience in the A-League with Brisbane Roar.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman has welcomed Riley to the club.
“We’re delighted to bring another Football Fern home,” Priestman said. “Our fans can now watch a number of New Zealand’s top internationals regularly play for the Nix.
“Indi has significant experience at the highest level in the WSL but also in other top leagues in Europe and with Brisbane in the A-League.
“She’ll bring a lot of energy to the team, which was a strength of ours last season, and she has great technical ability.
“Whenever I’ve watched her play for the Ferns against top teams she’s done really, really well.
“Indi’s also only 24 and has a bright future in the game so I’m looking forward to watching her grow at the Phoenix.”
Indiah-Paige Riley “can’t wait” to play for New Zealand’s only professional women’s team.
“I’m so excited,” Riley said. “I haven’t really played too much football in New Zealand, but every time I get to do it with the Ferns I love it.
“So to be able to play in front of Kiwis week-in, week-out is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Riley was already sold on the club before talking to Priestman.
“Every time we were in camp with the Ferns I was always asking the Phoenix players ‘how it’s going?’ and they always said such good things about the club, the facilities, Bev and how it was a really good team environment to be a part of.
“So once the opportunity arose it was a no brainer.
“The success they had as a team last year was really cool to watch from afar and I really wanted to be a part of it.
“Hopefully this season we go one step further as I want to be part of a winning team.”
She has arrived in Wellington ahead of the start of pre-season next week and has been blown away by the team’s training base at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS).
“I was speechless. It’s amazing.
“All the recovery facilities, the gym, the fields and the changing room are really professional and I can’t wait to make use of them all.
“Palace had really good facilities and these are just as good if not better.”
Indiah-Paige Riley will wear the no. 17 shirt for the Wellington Phoenix and is the 18th women’s player contracted for the 2026-27 Ninja A-League.
Further squad announcements will be made over the next seven weeks in the lead up to the women’s season opener against Melbourne City at Hnry Stadium on Sunday, October 18.
