Alex Paulsen

Alexander Noah Paulsen (born 4 July 2002) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for  club Bournemouth and the New Zealand national team.

Born in Auckland, Paulsen joined the Wellington Phoenix in 2018. Initially playing for their reserve team, Paulsen signed his first professional deal in September 2021 and largely served as second-choice goalkeeper. Following a standout debut season as starting goalkeeper, Paulsen signed for Bournemouth in June 2024. Paulsen was part of the New Zealand team in the football competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Early life
Paulsen was born in Auckland to a South African father and Namibian mother. He played futsal throughout his childhood, and only committed to playing football as a goalkeeper at the age of 13 after beginning as an outfielder. Paulsen initially played in the youth ranks of Onehunga Sports under the tutelage of noted youth development coach Hiroshi Miyazawa. In 2018, aged 15, Paulsen moved to Wellington to join the Wellington Phoenix academy through their affiliation with Onehunga Sports, following in the footsteps of fellow graduates Sarpreet Singh and Max Mata.

Early career
After progressing through the Wellington Phoenix age-grade sides, Paulsen was regularly named as a substitute for Wellington Phoenix Reserves throughout the 2018–19 and 2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship seasons, but did not make an appearance. During this time, Paulsen played for Wellington Phoenix affiliate clubs Wellington United and Lower Hutt City in the Central League. On 14 November 2020, Paulsen finally made his reserves debut, starting in a 1–0 loss to Team Wellington in the opening game of the 2020–21 season. Paulsen remained a consistent starter throughout the season, and despite the team finishing last, Paulsen was named the league's Most Valuable Player. His performances for the reserves culminated in his first professional contract, signing for the senior team on a three-year deal alongside fellow reserve standout Ben Old.

Paulsen entered the 2021–22 A-League Men season as second-choice goalkeeper behind club captain Oliver Sail. On 19 December 2021, following an injury to Sail, Paulsen made his A-League debut as a substitute in a 2–1 loss against Sydney FC. Paulsen would remain starter in Sail's absence; in an FFA Cup quarterfinal match against Melbourne City on 5 January 2022, Paulsen made three saves in a 0–0 (4–3) penalty shootout extra time win to secure the Phoenix's maiden semifinal appearance in the competition. Upon Sail's return from injury, however, Paulsen returned to a bench role, and he did not make an appearance the following season.

Breakout season
Sail departed the club to sign with Perth Glory prior to the start of the 2023–24 season. Paulsen became starting goalkeeper under new head coach Giancarlo Italiano, and played every minute as the Wellington Phoenix finished second, achieving their highest ever finish while conceding the lowest number of goals in club history. Paulsen was named the Wellington Phoenix Members' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Under–23 Player of the Year. He was named A-League Men Goalkeeper of the Year, and shared the Young Footballer of the Year award with Nestory Irankunda; this marked the first ever time a Wellington Phoenix player had won the award. He was also named in the A-League Men Team of the Season, receiving the most votes out of any player. Paulsen's season has since been noted as among the best of any A-League goalkeeper in history.

On 20 May 2024, Paulsen was called up to the A-League All Stars for a friendly match against Newcastle United; Paulsen started the match as the All Stars won 8–0.

Bournemouth
In June 2024, Paulsen signed for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth for a reported initial fee of £850,000, rising up to £2 million on a 4 year contract.

International career
In September 2018, Paulsen was called up for New Zealand to compete in the 2018 OFC U-16 Championship. Paulsen made three competition appearances, and was presented the Golden Glove award. In the final against the Solomon Islands, Paulsen saved two penalties – one in regular time, one in the penalty shootout – as New Zealand prevailed to win their eighth title, qualifying for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the process.

Paulsen played in all three of New Zealand's games in the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, being eliminated in the group stage. Despite making a high-profile error in a 3–0 loss to Brazil, Paulsen recovered to keep a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Canada.

Aged just 17, Paulsen was called up by Des Buckingham to the New Zealand under-23 squad for the 2019 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Paulsen made one appearance, as a late substitute in a 6–1 win over Samoa, as New Zealand won the title and qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Danny Hay named Paulsen as a traveling reserve for the tournament, with Michael Woud and Jamie Searle preferred in the main squad; Paulsen did not make an appearance as New Zealand reached the quarter-finals.

In September 2022, Paulsen was first called up to the senior national team for a two-game friendly series against Australia, but did not play in either match. He was later called up for friendlies against Greece and Ireland in November 2023, and then in March 2024 for two FIFA Series matches against Egypt and Tunisia, but again did not play ahead of incumbent Max Crocombe.

On 18 June 2024, Paulsen finally made his senior international debut, keeping a clean sheet against the Solomon Islands in a 3−0 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup win. Crocombe started all subsequent tournament games as New Zealand eventually claimed the trophy.

Personal life
Paulsen attended Selwyn College in Auckland and, upon joining the Wellington Phoenix academy in 2018, moved to Scots College in Wellington.

Paulsen's brother, Adam, represents the New Zealand national futsal team. The brothers played futsal regularly growing up, and Paulsen attributes this as a major influence on his ball-playing ability as a goalkeeper.

Honours
New Zealand
 * OFC Nations Cup: 2024

Individual
 * A-League Men Player of the Month: October/November 2023, March 2024
 * PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2023–24
 * A-Leagues All Stars: 2024