Nicholas Pennington
{{short description|Soccer player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nicholas Pennington
| fullname = Nicholas Pennington
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rome, Italy
| image = Nick Pennington.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Pennington playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
| height = {{height|m=1.86}}
| position = Central midfielder
| currentclub = Perth Glory
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2016
| youthclubs1 = Cagliari
| years1 = 2016–2018
| clubs1 = Cagliari
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017–2018
| clubs2 = → Olbia (loan)
| caps2 = 25
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2018–2021
| clubs3 = Olbia
| caps3 = 90
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2021–2024
| clubs4 = Wellington Phoenix
| caps4 = 61
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2022
| clubs5 = Wellington Phoenix Reserves
| caps5 = 1
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Perth Glory
| caps6 = 19
| goals6 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2019–2021
| nationalteam1 = Australia U23
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| pcupdate = 1 April 2025
| ntupdate = 22 December 2024
}}
Nicholas Pennington (born 18 December 1998) is a professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder for Perth Glory. Born in Italy, he represented Australia at youth international level.
Early life
Born in Rome, Pennington is of Australian descent through his father who originated from Perth. He has stated his interest in representing the Australia national team.{{Cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/meet-the-italian-midfielder-who-wants-to-play-for-the-socceroos|title = Meet the Italian midfielder who wants to play for the Socceroos| date=6 March 2018 }}
Club career
= Cagliari =
Pennington began his career with Cagliari. He made his first appearance on the bench on 27 November 2016 in a Serie A match against Udinese and the second three days later in a match against Sampdoria in the fourth round of Coppa Italia, but both times he did not appear on the field.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/11/27/italy/serie-a/cagliari-calcio/udinese-calcio/2305883/|title=Cagliari vs. Udinese - 27 November 2016 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/11/30/italy/coppa-italia/uc-sampdoria/cagliari-calcio/2339005/|title=Sampdoria vs. Cagliari - 30 November 2016 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-25}}
== Loan to Olbia ==
On 19 August 2017, he was loaned to Serie C club Olbia on a seasons-long loan deal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-c/ufficiale-olbia-dal-cagliari-arrivano-oliveira-e-pennington-1007584|title=UFFICIALE: Olbia, dal Cagliari arrivano Oliveira e Pennington - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com|access-date=2018-10-25}} On 4 October, Pennington made his debut for Olbia as a substitute replacing Enrico Geroni in the 28th minute of a 0–0 home draw against Pistoiese.{{cite web|publisher=Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/10/04/italy/serie-c1/olbia-calcio/ac-pistoiese/2579776/|title=Game Report by Soccerway|date=4 October 2017|accessdate=25 May 2018}} Four days later, on 8 October he played his first entire match for Olbia, a 2–1 home defeat against Robur Siena.{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/10/08/italy/serie-c1/olbia-calcio/ac-siena/2579787/|title=Olbia vs. Robur Siena - 8 October 2017 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|accessdate=25 May 2018}} On 18 February 2018, Pennington scored his first professional goal in the 51st minute of a 2–1 away win over Pistoiese.{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/18/italy/serie-c1/ac-pistoiese/olbia-calcio/2579947/|title=Pistoiese vs. Olbia - 18 February 2018 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|accessdate=25 May 2018}} Pennington ended his loan to Olbia with 25 appearances, 1 goal and 1 assist.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/nicholas-pennington/469810/|title=Australia - N. Pennington - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-28}}
= Olbia =
At the end of the loan period, Olbia signed Pennington outright for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-c/ufficiale-olbia-presi-crosta-e-pennington-dal-cagliari-1135573|title=UFFICIALE: Olbia, presi Crosta e Pennington dal Cagliari - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com|access-date=2018-08-09}} On 19 September he played his first match of the season in a 3–2 away win over Albissola, he was replaced by Joseph Tetteh after 75 minutes.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/09/19/italy/serie-c1/albissola/olbia-calcio/2918819/|title=Albissola vs. Olbia - 19 September 2018 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-25}} Four days later he played his first entire match of the season, a 2–1 home win over Aurora Pro Patria.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/09/23/italy/serie-c1/olbia-calcio/pro-patria/2918834/|title=Olbia vs. Pro Patria - 23 September 2018 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-25}}
=Wellington Phoenix=
On 30 July 2021, Pennington signed for New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix who play in the A-League.{{cite news |last1=Rollo |first1=Phillip |title=The next Reno Piscopo? Wellington Phoenix sign Australian-Italian midfielder |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/125910471/the-next-reno-piscopo-wellington-phoenix-sign-australianitalian-midfielder |work=Stuff |date=30 July 2021 |language=en}} Pennington scored his first Phoenix goal on 26 March 2022, a 97th-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Perth Glory.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/128179408/stunning-wellington-phoenix-win-marred-by-serious-injury-to-clayton-lewis|title=Stunning Wellington Phoenix win marred by serious injury to Clayton Lewis|date=27 March 2022|accessdate=28 March 2022|website=Stuff|author=Rollo, Phillip}}
On 19 June 2024, the Phoenix announced that Pennington was leaving the club.{{cite news|url=https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/pennington-moves-on/|title=Pennington moves on|website=Wellington Phoenix FC|date=19 June 2024|access-date=22 June 2024}}
=Perth Glory=
On 19 June 2024, Perth Glory announced that Pennington had joined the club on a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-glory/perth-glory-signing-nicholas-pennington-praises-football-director-stan-lazaridis-after-move-from-wellington-c-15071227|title=Perth Glory signing Nicholas Pennington praises football director Stan Lazaridis after move from Wellington|date=19 June 2024|access-date=22 June 2024|first=Jackson|last=Barrett|website=The West Australian}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|22 December 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coppa Italia, Australia Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cagliari
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| Olbia (loan)
|25 |1 |colspan=2|— |0 | 0
|25 |1 | |||||||
| rowspan=4|Olbia
|Serie C |30 |0 | colspan="2" |— |2{{efn|Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C|name=CIC}} |0 |32 |0 | ||||||||
| 2019–20
|Serie C |24 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=CIC}} | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21
|Serie C |36 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| colspan=2|Total | 115 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 119 | 5 |
| rowspan=4|Wellington Phoenix
|22 | 1 | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23
|A-League Men |14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|A-League Men |25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 27 | 2 | ||
| colspan=2|Total | 61 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 3 |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves
|2022 |1 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 1 | |||
| Perth Glory
|A-League Men |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total | 185 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 198 | 9 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|nicholas-pennington/469810}}
{{Perth Glory FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pennington, Nicholas}}
Category:Footballers from Rome
Category:Italian people of Australian descent
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Cagliari Calcio players
Category:Olbia Calcio 1905 players
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players
Category:Perth Glory FC players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in New Zealand