Eastern Suburbs have revealed three big-name signings, including an All White, an OlyWhite and a former OFC Champions League Golden Boot winner.
With the Northern League season due to start on March 25 with a trip to Melville United, the Lilywhites have signed All Whites full back Francis de Vries, former club captain and Olympian Adam Thomas and Uruguayan striker Martin Bueno.
Main photo: Francis de Vries playing for New Zealand against Solomon Islands in last year’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Phototek.
Francis de Vries: Five full caps for New Zealand
De Vries (28) has five caps for the All Whites, having made his debut against The Gambia in November 2021.
Born in Christchurch, he played youth football for Canterbury United and then with Swiss club FC Basel.
De Vries moved to the United States in 2013, playing college football at St Francis University in Pennsylvania and in 2017, he was signed by MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps, in the pre-season draft.
Since then, he’s had spells with Canterbury United, and with Swedish clubs Nyköpings BIS and IFK Värnamo.
De Vries suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury playing for Värnamo last July, forcing him to miss the All Whites match against Australia in September.
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Adam Thomas: Back at Suburbs after stint in Ireland
Former Suburbs captain Adam Thomas (30) returns to the club after a year under contract to League of Ireland club Shelbourne FC.
The former OlyWhite and New Zealand age group representative was loaned by Shelbourne to first division club Galway United.
Hamilton-born Thomas has played for Melville United, Central United, Auckland City, Waikato FC, Team Wellington and Suburbs, with whom he won a National League title in 2019.
For New Zealand, he’s played for the national U-17s (10 games), U-20s (8) and U-23s (11).
READ MORE: Former OlyWhite defender goes on loan to League of Ireland first division club >>>>
Martín Bueno: Past title-winner with New Zealand clubs
Striker Martín Bueno (31) returns to Suburbs after two years away, having stints with Swiss club AC Bellinzona, Italian side Livorno and a loan spell with Uruguayan Primera Divisiōn club Cerro Largo.
The 6′ 4″ forward was a member of Napier City Rovers’ Central League-winning side in 2018 and won the Chatham Cup with them in 2019. He then spent a season with Hamilton Wanderers before joining Eastern Suburbs.
In 2020, he scored six goals in three games for Eastern Suburbs to win the Golden Boot in the OFC Champions League.
READ MORE: Fixtures revealed for new Northern League season >>>>
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