Bournemouth complete signing of highly-rated A-League goalkeeper

Bournemouth have announced the signing of 21-year-old goalkeeper Alex Paulsen from A-League club Wellington Phoenix.

Last month, the Cherries confirmed that they have signed Enes Unal on a permanent basis from Getafe after specific conditions on his loan deal were met.

Having already made one permanent addition this summer, Bournemouth have now revealed that have strengthened their goalkeeping department with the arrival of Paulsen from Wellington Phoenix.

The Cherries have agreed a deal to sign Paulsen for a reported £850,000 fee, which could rise to £2m depending on performances and appearances.

Paulsen, who reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Liverpool, is believed to have penned a three-year deal to keep him at the Vitality Stadium until June 2027.

Confirmed ✅

We're delighted to sign highly-rated goalkeeper Alex Paulsen 🇳🇿

Welcome to #afcb, Alex 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WWl13JDV8Z

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 4, 2024

Paulsen "humbled" to join Cherries

Following his signing, Paulsen told the club's official website: "I'm humbled to be considered worthy of signing with Bournemouth in the Premier League.

"It means the world to me, my family and to my friends to be offered an opportunity to play in the best league on the planet, which most aspiring young footballers only dream of."

Paulsen is expected to link up with Andoni Iraola's side next month before travelling to France to represent New Zealand at the Olympics.

"We're very pleased to secure Alex's services," Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said. "He's an exciting prospect with so much potential, and his development has been clear for all to see during an excellent season in the A-League.

"We look forward to welcoming Alex to Bournemouth in early July, where we plan to introduce him to Andoni and the rest of the team before he departs for what will be a great opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics."

© Reuters

Who is Bournemouth's new highly-rated goalkeeper?

Paulsen worked his way through the youth ranks at Wellington Phoenix, before he made his A-League debut in December 2021.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the A-League's brightest young talents, having showcased his potential during his 36 senior appearances for the New Zealand-based club.

Last season, Paulsen recorded 12 clean sheets in 29 matches, helping Wellington Phoenix reach the end-of-season playoff semi-finals.

The goalkeeper's impressive performances earned him a place in the A-League All Stars men's team for the 2023-24 season.

He will join a goalkeeping department which includes Republic of Ireland international Mark Travers and experienced shot-stopper Neto.