How Wellington Phoenix secured Sarpreet Singh’s return
Saturday, 7 February 2026
Sarpreet Singh returning to Phoenix on short-term loan from Serbian club.
All Whites star offered his services to club on Monday and deal was completed the following day.
Singh will wear the No. 9 shirt.
Sarpreet Singh offered his services to Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano on Monday and by Tuesday morning he was a Phoenix player again.
The All Whites star is returning to where it all began, signing on loan from Serbian club TSC Bačka Topola for the remainder of the A-League Men season in a major boost for the Phoenix.
The Phoenix waited until Singh was in Wellington to confirm his signing, surprising supporters by unveiling him 15 minutes before kickoff in the team’s 3-2 defeat against Melbourne Victory on Friday night.
Singh emerged from the players’ tunnel to a big cheer from the Yellow Fever.
It has been almost seven years since he last played for the Phoenix, leaving after a breakout 2018-19 season after securing a dream move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Singh will be hoping a consistent run of games back in the A-League will have him firing for the FIFA World Cup in June.
It’s something he has been searching for ever since he left the Phoenix, bouncing around various clubs in Europe.
He made just two appearances for Bayern.
Singh was close to signing with the Phoenix at the start of the season and even flew to Wellington to meet Italiano and tour the club’s facilities at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport.
In the end, he decided to stick it out in Europe and followed former Phoenix coach Darije Kalezic to Serbia.
He played 15 times for Bačka Topola but fell out of favour when Kalezic was sacked in November and has not started since.
With the World Cup just four months away, Singh knew he needed to be playing.
So he sent Italiano a message on Monday and the Phoenix moved quickly to make the deal happen, despite already signing another attacking midfielder, Norwegian Sander Kartum, during the January transfer window.
Singh is the Phoenix’s third mid-season, joining Kartum and another All Whites’ World Cup hopeful, Bill Tuiloma.
“We almost signed him at the beginning of the season. He came to the club, we had discussions and it was really close and then last second he decided to stay in Europe, which was fair enough,” Italiano told Stuff.
“There was a change of management at his club and he fell out of favour and we were just keeping tabs on it. It was brewing in the background and after we signed Bill, it was a good feeling to have some experience and we lacked a bit of experience in that No. 10 role.
“Getting him over the line was great. I was stoked to get it done. It gives us a bit of quality now and a lot of depth as well. I’m going to push him and the boys we’ve just signed as quickly as we can.”
After arriving in Wellington on Thursday afternoon, Singh was unveiled to the Phoenix fans before the team’s match against the Victory.
One of the Phoenix’s favourite sons has returned.
Singh will wear the No. 9 shirt and is expected to be available for the team’s next match away to Western Sydney Wanderers next Friday.
After that is the sixth New Zealand derby between the Phoenix and Auckland FC in Wellington on February 21.
“I’m very happy to be back,” Singh said. “The club means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone.
“The most important thing for me is to be in an environment where I’m enjoying it, having fun and being able to just be free on the field.
“That’s when I play my best football and believe Wellington provides the best environment for that for me.
“The Phoenix have also made some good signings, and the club is really pushing hard to get to the finals.
“I feel like the group of players that have been put together now can do something special and I want to be part of that.”