Football: Wellington Phoenix sign Spanish midfielder Armando Sosa Peña

Armando Sosa Peña
Phoenix midfielder Armando Sosa Peña. Photo credit: Photosport

The Wellington Phoenix have signed Spanish midfielder Armando Sosa Peña, better known as 'Mandi'.

The 29-year-old has trialled with the club since last month and has convinced coach Mark Rudan he's the right man for the job.

Peña has played more than 200 games across the second and third divisions of Spanish football.

Most recently, he played with second division side Almeria, where he made 23 appearances, before tearing his Achilles tendon earlier in the year during a match.

Peña's signing means the Phoenix have filled all five of their import spots for the upcoming season.

"I felt like something new, and I like New Zealand and what I have seen," he said. 

"Not only will I be living in a beautiful country, but I will be playing in the A-League, which I think will be a big challenge given the quality of the players here."

The Spaniard joins Polish duo Filip Kurto and Michał Kopczyński, Fijian striker Roy Krishna and former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor as the team's overseas players.  

The signing is timely for the club which has missed out on former Chelsea player Michael Essien and former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins.

The news comes a day after the club confirmed the signing of Australian midfielder Max Burgess.

On Thursday, the Phoenix also confirmed that young keeper Keegan Smith left the club to join Tasman United in ISPS Handa Premiership League.

The Phoenix now have 17 players on their roster for the upcoming season.

They must sign three more players to meet the minimum number required under A-League rules, before their first game against the Newcastle Jets on October 21.

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