Finn Surman

Finn Surman
Surman with the Portland Timbers in 2026
Personal information
Full name Finn Surman
Date of birth (2003-09-23) 23 September 2003 (age 23)
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Portland Timbers
Number 20
Youth career
Selwyn United
Wellington Phoenix
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Selwyn United 1 (0)
2019–2023 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 20 (0)
2021 Lower Hutt City AFC 17 (1)
2021–2024 Wellington Phoenix 45 (1)
2024– Portland Timbers 56 (1)
International career‡
2022–2023 New Zealand U-20
2023– New Zealand Olympic 4 (0)
2023– New Zealand 22 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  New Zealand
OFC Nations Cup
Winner2024 Fiji/Vanuatu
OFC U-19 Championship
Winner2022 Tahiti
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 August 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 June 2026

Finn Surman (born 23 September 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers. Born in Wales, he represents the New Zealand national team.

Club career

Wellington Phoenix

In November 2021, Surman was one of three players who travelled to Australia to join Wellington Phoenix's senior A-League Men side, forced to play away from home due to travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. He made his debut for the Phoenix in a win over Western United in the 2021 FFA Cup on 7 December 2021.

Surman signed a professional contract with the Phoenix in February 2022. By April 2022, Surman was making regular appearances in the Phoenix's starting side.

Portland Timbers

On 20 July 2024, Surman was transferred to Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers for an undisclosed fee. Surman was the third Wellington Phoenix academy graduate to sign an offshore club deal. Surman signed a contract through the 2026 season, with a club option till 2027.

On 19 October 2024, Surman made his debut for the club, starting in a 1–1 draw against Seattle Sounders. On 16 August 2026, Surman scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

International career

Born in Wales and raised in New Zealand, he was eligible to play for either New Zealand or Wales.

On 5 June 2023, he was called up by New Zealand for the first time.

Surman was later announced to represent the All Whites in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

On 14 May 2026, Surman was included in New Zealand's 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Because Wales did not qualify for the tournament, he was the only Welsh-born player to play at the tournament. On 21 June 2026, in the 15th minute of a World Cup group stage game against Egypt, Surman scored a headed corner goal to bring the All Whites their first World Cup lead at the halftime interval.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 August 2026
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2019–20 Premiership 10— ——10
2020–21 Premiership 100— ——100
2021 National League —— —2020
2022 National League 40— ——40
2023 National League 30— ——30
Total 180000020200
Lower Hutt City 2021 National League 17130——201
Wellington Phoenix 2021–22 A-League Men 14030 —10180
2022–23 A-League Men 4000 —0040
2023–24 A-League Men 27020 —20310
Total 450500030530
Portland Timbers 2024 Major League Soccer 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
2025 Major League Soccer 35 0 1 0 2 0 — 38 0
2026 Major League Soccer 19 1 0 0 3 0 — 22 1
Total 56 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 62 0
Career total 136 2 9 0 2 0 5 0 155 2
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in Chatham Cup, Australia Cup, U.S. Open Cup
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in South Central Series
  4. 1 2 Appearances in A-League Finals

International goals

List of international goals scored by Finn Surman
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1.27 June 2024Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu Tahiti1–05–02024 OFC Nations Cup
2.14 October 2025Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway Norway1–01–1Friendly
3.21 June 2026BC Place, Vancouver, Canada Egypt1–01–32026 FIFA World Cup

Honours

New Zealand

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: New Zealand (NZL)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 17. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Phoenix men call in reinforcements". Wellington Phoenix FC. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Rollo, Phillip (8 December 2021). "Young players get the job done for Wellington Phoenix men in the FFA Cup". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  4. ↑ Jackson, Ed (16 February 2022). "Nix sign teenage duo to A-League Men's side". FTBL.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Voerman, Andrew. "Wellington Phoenix defender Finn Surman wasn't expecting his rise to be so rapid". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Timbers Sign Defender Finn Surman". Portland Timbers. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. ↑ Timbers, Portland. "Finn Surman". Portland Timbers. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Chicago Fire vs Portland Timbers: Major League Soccer stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Jackson, Ed (5 June 2023). "All Whites squad announced for games this month against Sweden and Qatar". nzfootball.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Jackson, Ed (10 July 2024). "Men's Football Team Announced for Paris 2024". nzfootball.co.nz. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  11. ↑ Jackson, Ed (14 May 2026). "New Zealand Squad Named for FIFA World Cup". nzfootball.co.nz. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Y Cymro fydd yn chwarae yng Nghwpan y Byd 2026" [The Welshman who will play at the 2026 World Cup]. BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Finn Surman Stats | Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2026.