Who is Alex Paulsen? The Black Knight-linked ball-playing goalkeeper who could join Hibs this summer

New Zealand international Alex Paulsen is likely to make a temporary switch to Easter Road this summer from the Cherries as the Black Knights’ player trading strategy comes to the fore.

The ball-playing goalkeeper, 22, has impressed at Auckland FC this season in the A-League and has earned the right to challenge himself at a bigger club within the multi-club ownership group. That’s the opinion of Black Knight chief Bezbatchenko - who revealed to the Athletic FC Podcast that Hibs would be a “good location” for the stopper next season.

David Gray’s side are currently flying high in the Scottish Premiership and are sitting third in the table ahead of Saturday’s return to action against St Johnstone at home. And during Hibs’ 14-match unbeaten league run - Jordan Smith has emerged as a credible No 1. He’s recently penned a new three-year deal with the club and is one of the Premiership’s best-performing goalkeepers.

Onehunga Sports to Olympic Games - Alex Paulsen’s football career so far

Paulsen started out at famed NZ youth club Onehunga Sports before moving to Wellington Phoenix’s academy.

In 2021, the goalkeeper signed his first professional contract with Wellington Phoenix proper and he made his A-League debut that year. He was eventually handed the No 1 jersey and helped his side to a second-placed finish, earning a spot in the A-League All Stars team for a friendly against Newcastle United.

Last summer, Paulsen was brought to the attentions of the Black Knight group - and he was swiftly snapped up by Bournemouth for a deal worth around £2 million in total including add-ons. He was sent back out on loan to fellow A-League outfit and Black Knight club Auckland FC.

He kept a clean sheet on his NZ national team debut and played in all three of New Zealand’s matches at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Black Knight president Tim Bezbatchenko backs move to Hibs for stopper

“Hibs could be a good location for him,” Bezbatchenko revealed when speaking about the Black Knights’ model. “We look at the Bournemouth players who may benefit from going out on loan to a good environment. Players want to move up whether within the Black Knight group our elsewhere.

“Alex Paulsen is a good example. It may make sense to move him within the group this summer. There's constant communication, there's weekly meetings about these things between out club’s sporting directors. Hibs head coach David Gray is actually going to come down and take in a session at Bournemouth in the near future.”

Alex Paulsen - a ball-playing goalkeeper who has taken the A-League by storm

The stopper began his journey in football as an outfielder - and that can seen a mile of. Paulsen moulds himself on being a modern goalkeeper who is comfortable on the ball. His background in futsal has helped that too, with his brother Adam one of NZ’s top futsal internationals.

Paulsen was also named Australia’s PFA Young Footballer of the Year last year. He’s only the second Kiwi to win that coveted prize. Former winners include ex-Hibs striker Jamie Maclaren and ex-Celtic prospect Daniel Arzani.

The Young Player of the Year gong follows a number of other awards won by Paulsen, including the A-League Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and the competition’s Fan Player of the Year.

He also shared the A-League Men’s Young Footballer of the Year award with Nestory Irankunda.