Auckland FC to sign All Whites goalkeeper Oli Sail from Perth Glory

Monday, 18 August 2025

Oli Sail arrives at Go Media Stadium for a match against Auckland FC last season.

All Whites and former Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail is on the verge of a shock return to New Zealand to play for Auckland FC.

It’s understood last season’s A-League Men Premiership winners have been forced to sign another shotstopper due an injury to new recruit Scott Morris and have identified Sail as their No. 1 target.

Sail is entering the final year of a three-year deal with Perth Glory but they appear willing to let the Auckland-born player return home after signing two-time A-League goalkeeper of the season Mark Birighitti.

Morris joined Auckland FC on July 7 after star shotstopper Alex Paulsen returned to parent club AFC Bournemouth following the expiration of his one-year loan deal.

The New Zealand age-group international was expected to provide cover for Michael Woud but he is yet to feature during pre-season or in the first two games of the Australia Cup due to a hip injury.

Forever Auckland FC debuts on Sky Open, Sky Go, Neon and Sky Sport Now on Wednesday, August 27.

Scholarship goalkeeper Joe Knowles is also currently sidelined through injury, leaving them exposed in a crucial position ahead of the upcoming A-League campaign.

Woud was among the first wave of signings Auckland made ahead of their inaugural season as a professional football club but he was relegated to second-choice when Paulsen was brought in on loan.

Now he will have more competition in the form of 11-year A-League veteran Sail.

Although he was born in Auckland, Sail spent the first nine years of his professional career with the Phoenix before signing with Perth ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Sail was the All Whites’ No. 1 goalkeeper at the time and was hoping the move would provide a springboard to Europe.

However, he has endured a difficult time in Western Australia. Glory have collected the wooden spoon in back-to-back seasons and Sail has been in and out of the starting XI.

The move home to the City of Sails will give the 29-year-old a chance to rebuild his confidence behind one of the A-League’s best defences and get back in the frame ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Sail started in goal as Perth Glory lost 8-7 on penalties to the Phoenix in the Australia Cup round of 32 last month, which means he will be cup-tied and won’t feature in the quarterfinal against Sydney FC this Saturday.