Tim Payne signs with Paraguay giants Club Olimpia after viral World Cup fame

Friday, 19 June 2026

All Whites defender Tim Payne has secured a transfer to Club Olimpia in Paraguay following his viral World Cup fame.

Wellington Phoenix accepted an undisclosed fee from 48-time Paraguayan champions Club Olimpia for the 32-year-old right back Tim Payne.

Club Olimpia beat out multiple South American rivals to secure Tim Payne's signature from Wellington Phoenix after his World Cup popularity.

All Whites defender Tim Payne has secured a “life-changing” move to South America on the back of his viral World Cup fame.

Wellington Phoenix have accepted an undisclosed transfer fee from 48-time Paraguayan champions Club Olimpia for the 32-year-old right back.

The transfer is subject to Payne completing a medical after the World Cup, with the fee believed to be in the vicinity of $500,000.

The move caps a whirlwind three weeks for Payne after South American content creator El Scarso identified him as the least-known player at the World Cup and urged his followers to make him the tournament’s main character.

Payne had 4000 Instagram followers when he left for the World Cup. He is now on the verge of passing 6 million – and has secured a move to Paraguay’s biggest club.

“Club Olimpia is one of the biggest clubs in South America, with an incredible history, passionate supporters and ambitions that match its stature, and I am looking forward to rising to that challenge,” Payne said.

“For our family, this is something really special. My son, growing up speaking Spanish like his mum did, immersing ourselves in her culture and her family's world is what makes this so much more than just a football move.

“Opportunities like this don't come around often, and we're not taking it for granted.”

Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill said clubs began expressing interest in Payne within a week of him going viral, with Olimpia beating out as many as five South American rivals for his signature.

The Phoenix explored ways to leverage Payne’s newfound popularity, but the player ultimately decided he wanted to immerse himself in South America and make the move to Paraguay.

“It became very clear from the conversation with Payney that the opportunity was too good for him to turn down, from a financial point of view with the player contract but also going to a league where he can really test himself and with the Champions League stuff that we can’t provide,” Gill said.

“The main driver for Payney was obviously the football side of things, the social media following is what it is, but he’s a footballer first and foremost.”

Although Payne’s departure is a blow after seven seasons and 149 appearances for the Phoenix, the club will not sign a replacement, with right backs Matt Sheridan and Xuan Loke already contracted for next season.

Payne’s All Whites team-mate Max Crocombe said it was an incredible story.

“It comes around because he’s an ‘unknown player,’ but, for us, he’s been a stalwart and a constant in our team for a long time,” Crocombe said.

“It’s going to be an incredible experience for him, but he’s earned it. This has come up a bit randomly, but because he’s done all the hard yards in the past to get to a World Cup.”