New Zealand international winger Joey Champness has left Auckland FC by “mutual agreement” after not featuring in any of their eight men’s A-League games.
Auckland-born Champness (27) was revealed as a signing by the A-League expansion club in July 2024, becoming the squad’s eighth All White.
“I grew up here, I’m from here so the chance to finally play professionally here in Auckland is huge for me and for players like me,” Champness said when he signed.
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Since Auckland FC’s competitive debut on October 19, Champness has not been included in any of the club’s matchday squads.
Weekly squad lists did not even list him as unavailable or injured.
Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker released a short statement on December 23, 2024, saying:
“Auckland FC has today (December 23) come to a mutual agreement with Joe Champness for him to depart the club, effective immediately.
“Auckland FC would like to express its thanks to Joe for being part of the early foundations of the club and his contribution to date.
” The club would like to wish Joe all the best for the future in both his football and personal endeavours.”
Joe Champness play for New Zealand against New Caledonia’s Jean-Brice Wadriako at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers in Qatar. Photo credit: OFC Media / Phototek.Champness has worked on two careers at once, combining professional football with work as a recording artist who performs under the name JOWIC.
In 2019, he left A-League club Newcastle Jets to pursue a music career in Los Angeles but returned to Australia in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a spell playing football in Turkey, Champness signed for Auckland FC.
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Champness represented Australia at age group level, playing for the Australian U-20 and U-23 sides, before pledging his allegiance to New Zealand in 2021.
He’s earned nine caps for New Zealand.
This story was first published on December 23, 2024.
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