Nicholas Pennington (born 18 December 1998) is a professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder for Perth Glory. Born in Italy, he represented Australia at youth international level.
 Pennington playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicholas Pennington | ||
| Date of birth | 18 December 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Perth Glory | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Cagliari | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Cagliari | 0 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Olbia (loan) | 25 | (1) |
| 2018–2021 | Olbia | 90 | (4) |
| 2021–2024 | Wellington Phoenix | 61 | (2) |
| 2022 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 1 | (1) |
| 2024– | Perth Glory | 8 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019–2021 | Australia U23 | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 December 2024 | |||
Early life
editBorn in Rome, Pennington is of Australian descent through his father who originated from Perth. He has stated his interest in representing the Australia national team.[1]
Club career
editCagliari
editPennington began his career with Cagliari. He made his first appearance on the bench on 27 November 2016 in a Serie A match against Udinese and the second three days later in a match against Sampdoria in the fourth round of Coppa Italia, but both times he did not appear on the field.[2][3]
Loan to Olbia
editOn 19 August 2017, he was loaned to Serie C club Olbia on a seasons-long loan deal.[4] On 4 October, Pennington made his debut for Olbia as a substitute replacing Enrico Geroni in the 28th minute of a 0–0 home draw against Pistoiese.[5] Four days later, on 8 October he played his first entire match for Olbia, a 2–1 home defeat against Robur Siena.[6] On 18 February 2018, Pennington scored his first professional goal in the 51st minute of a 2–1 away win over Pistoiese.[7] Pennington ended his loan to Olbia with 25 appearances, 1 goal and 1 assist.[8]
Olbia
editAt the end of the loan period, Olbia signed Pennington outright for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.[9] On 19 September he played his first match of the season in a 3–2 away win over Albissola, he was replaced by Joseph Tetteh after 75 minutes.[10] Four days later he played his first entire match of the season, a 2–1 home win over Aurora Pro Patria.[11]
Wellington Phoenix
editOn 30 July 2021, Pennington signed for New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix who play in the A-League.[12] Pennington scored his first Phoenix goal on 26 March 2022, a 97th-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Perth Glory.[13]
On 19 June 2024, the Phoenix announced that Pennington was leaving the club.[14]
Perth Glory
editOn 19 June 2024, Perth Glory announced that Pennington had joined the club on a two-year contract.[15]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 22 December 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cagliari | 2016–17 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Olbia (loan) | 2017–18 | Serie C | 25 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Olbia | 2018–19 | Serie C | 30 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | Serie C | 24 | 2 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Serie C | 36 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| Total | 115 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 119 | 5 | ||
| Wellington Phoenix | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 22 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | |
| 2022–23 | A-League Men | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | A-League Men | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| Total | 61 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 3 | ||
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | 2022 | New Zealand National League | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||
| Perth Glory | 2024–25 | A-League Men | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Career total | 185 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 198 | 9 | ||
- ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Australia Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C
References
edit- ^ "Meet the Italian midfielder who wants to play for the Socceroos".
- ^ "Cagliari vs. Udinese - 27 November 2016 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "Sampdoria vs. Cagliari - 30 November 2016 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "UFFICIALE: Olbia, dal Cagliari arrivano Oliveira e Pennington - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Olbia vs. Robur Siena - 8 October 2017 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Pistoiese vs. Olbia - 18 February 2018 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Australia - N. Pennington - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "UFFICIALE: Olbia, presi Crosta e Pennington dal Cagliari - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Albissola vs. Olbia - 19 September 2018 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "Olbia vs. Pro Patria - 23 September 2018 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (30 July 2021). "The next Reno Piscopo? Wellington Phoenix sign Australian-Italian midfielder". Stuff.
- ^ Rollo, Phillip (27 March 2022). "Stunning Wellington Phoenix win marred by serious injury to Clayton Lewis". Stuff. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "Pennington moves on". Wellington Phoenix FC. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Barrett, Jackson (19 June 2024). "Perth Glory signing Nicholas Pennington praises football director Stan Lazaridis after move from Wellington". The West Australian. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
External links
edit- Nicholas Pennington at Soccerway