Alex Paulsen Returns to Bournemouth After Historic Loan with Auckland FC

AUCKLAND — After anchoring a title-winning campaign for Auckland FC in their inaugural A-League Men season, standout goalkeeper Alex Paulsen has officially returned to AFC Bournemouth, his parent club, closing the chapter on what many are calling one of the finest seasons by a New Zealand goalkeeper in domestic history.

Paulsen, 22, was ever-present between the posts for the Black Knights, playing every one of the 2,430 possible minutes throughout the season. He recorded an impressive 13 clean sheets and was instrumental in Auckland FC becoming the first New Zealand club to lift A-League silverware.

Arriving in August 2024 on loan from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth — both clubs owned by Bill Foley — Paulsen’s impact was immediate and lasting. His performances consistently drew praise from fans, media, and football executives alike.

A Stellar Season

“Alex is a fantastic player and a true professional,” said Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica. “He made a huge impression on us, his teammates, and the city. He’ll be missed, but he leaves us after a highly successful season, one I’m sure he’ll look back on fondly.”

Corica went on to describe Paulsen as a “great shot-stopper,” who was also “commanding in his area, a fantastic influence in the dressing room,” and someone with a “very bright future ahead of him.”

Paulsen capped his season with several major individual honors: he was named Isuzu UTE A-League Men Goalkeeper of the Year, won Save of the Year for his extraordinary stop against Melbourne Victory, and for the second consecutive year, was voted captain of the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) Team of the Year.

A Kiwi Abroad

“It has been a wild 12 months, better than I could ever have dreamed of,” Paulsen said. “I’ve had an incredible experience and am so grateful to the fans, my teammates, the coaches, and all the staff who supported me. They’ve helped me grow not just as a player, but as a person.”

His exploits were closely monitored by AFC Bournemouth throughout the season.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming Alex back to England,” said Tiago Pinto, President of Football Operations at Bournemouth. “His individual achievements and Auckland’s collective success are something to be proud of. We’re excited to work with him again when he returns in July.”

Paulsen also expressed excitement for his return to England, but emphasized his emotional ties to New Zealand.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Bournemouth and embracing whatever opportunities lie ahead,” he said. “But I won’t forget where I’m from. I started my career with Onehunga Sports, my friends and family are here, so lifting the plate at home meant everything to me.”

A Story Still Being Written

Paulsen’s rise through Auckland FC has not only served as a platform for his personal development but also as proof of concept for the growing value of New Zealand talent within a global football structure. His success underscores the potential of the multi-club model shared by Foley’s ownership group, which opens pathways for local players to reach Europe through professional experience in the A-League.

Whether he competes for minutes at Bournemouth, heads out on another loan, or stakes a claim to the Cherries’ first team, Paulsen’s trajectory has become one of the most inspiring Kiwi football stories in recent memory.

And, as he puts it, the journey is only just beginning.