All Whites goalkeeper Alex Paulsen will be joining World Cup teammate Elijah Just at his club in Scotland.
Motherwell FC, who play in the Scottish Premiership, announced Paulsen would join the club on a season-long loan deal from AFC Bournemouth.
Paulsen has just come off a season long loan spell at Lechia Gdańsk in Poland. He was on the All Whites squad at the World Cup, but did not play in any of New Zealand's three games.
The former Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC shotstopper will be joining breakout All Whites star Elijah Just, who scored a record three goals for New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup.
Just was named Player of the Year for Motherwell last season, and was the PFA’s Player of the Year for the Scottish Premiership.
But it's unlikely the two Kiwis will play together by the time the season starts, with Just catching the eye of clubs across Europe with his impressive World Cup performance. He has already been linked with the two top sides in Scotland, Celtic and Rangers.
Paulsen said he had spoken with Just about Motherwell and "everything he has said has got me excited about what’s to come".
“I’ve had a wonderful summer with my country at the World Cup and feel fresh coming into this season. We have some huge matches just around the corner, and we all need to be ready for the competitive action.
"I’ve spoken to the manager and have been so impressed with the way he has spoken to me. There is a clear vision, and I hope I can help the team achieve that.”
Paulsen isn't the only Kiwi making the move to Scotland, with his former Auckland teammate Jesse Randall joining Dundee United.
Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson said: “Alex has already shown domestically and internationally that he is an impressive goalkeeper with an exciting career ahead of him."
“His last two loan moves have been successful for him personally, and we see this as the next step for his development. He is highly thought of by his country. He has just arrived back from being in the New Zealand World Cup squad, so he is ready to hit the ground running."
Johansson said there would be competition among the goalkeepers to start between the posts, something Paulsen said he was up for.
"I know coming here that I’ll need to work hard to get into this team. There is a strong goalkeeping contingent already in the building, so the work starts now for me."
Watch all matches at the World Cup with an event pass on TVNZ+
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