Nicholas Pennington

Nicholas Pennington
Pennington playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Pennington
Date of birth (1998-12-18) 18 December 1998 (age 25)
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
0000–2016 Cagliari
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Cagliari 0 (0)
2017–2018Olbia (loan) 25 (1)
2018–2021 Olbia 90 (4)
2021–2024 Wellington Phoenix 61 (2)
2022 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 1 (1)
2024– Perth Glory 2 (0)
International career
2019–2021 Australia U23 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 March 2022

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.

Early life

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Born 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

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Cagliari

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Pennington 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

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On 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

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At 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

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On 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

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On 19 June 2024, Perth Glory announced that Pennington had joined the club on a two-year contract.[15]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 22 June 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 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 177 8 9 1 4 0 190 9
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Australia Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C

References

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  1. ^ "Meet the Italian midfielder who wants to play for the Socceroos".
  2. ^ "Cagliari vs. Udinese - 27 November 2016 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Sampdoria vs. Cagliari - 30 November 2016 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. ^ "UFFICIALE: Olbia, dal Cagliari arrivano Oliveira e Pennington - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Olbia vs. Robur Siena - 8 October 2017 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Pistoiese vs. Olbia - 18 February 2018 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Australia - N. Pennington - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  9. ^ "UFFICIALE: Olbia, presi Crosta e Pennington dal Cagliari - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Albissola vs. Olbia - 19 September 2018 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Olbia vs. Pro Patria - 23 September 2018 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  12. ^ Rollo, Phillip (30 July 2021). "The next Reno Piscopo? Wellington Phoenix sign Australian-Italian midfielder". Stuff.
  13. ^ Rollo, Phillip (27 March 2022). "Stunning Wellington Phoenix win marred by serious injury to Clayton Lewis". Stuff. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Pennington moves on". Wellington Phoenix FC. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
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