Wellington Phoenix have made a deadline day signing, bringing in 22-year-old Corban Piper from Birkenhead United on a one-season scholarship deal.
Piper, who has been a standout with seven goals in his first eight games of the Northern League campaign, will shift from his attacking role to play as a central defender for the Phoenix.
Although Piper has primarily played as an attacking midfielder at Birkenhead, he has experience as a defensive midfielder and centre-back. Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano plans to utilize Piper’s skills in a defensive capacity to strengthen the team’s backline.
“Corban possesses the qualities needed to be a strong ball-playing central defender,” Italiano said. “He’s a tenacious and physically strong player. His progress in training has been impressive, showing his eagerness to succeed. Additionally, Corban is known for being a great person, which is crucial for our team dynamics.”
Piper, who is gearing up for his debut season in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, expressed his excitement about the new role. “It’s all happened so quickly,” Piper said. “I’m thrilled to be part of this team, enjoy training, and be involved with the squad.”
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He added, “My physicality is a key strength, and I’m eager to make impactful tackles. While I played a more attacking role this season, last year I was more focused on defensive positions. I believe my experience as a midfielder will help me adapt to the ball-playing role that Chiefy requires from his centre-backs.”
