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 26)
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

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

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

Cagliari

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

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

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

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

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

Career statistics

Club

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
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Australia Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C

References

  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.