New Zealand keeper Paulsen joins Motherwell on loan from Bournemouth

Alex Paulsen was part of New Zealand's 2026 World Cup squad [Getty Images] Motherwell have signed New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen on loan from Bournemouth, two years after he made a reported £2m move to the Premier League side. The 24-year-old, who was part of his nation's 2026 World Cup squad but did not feature, caught the attention of the English top-flight club after a breakout spell at Wellington Phoenix. However, he is yet to play for Bournemouth and has spent the past two seasons out on loan, firstly at Auckland before a stint at Lechia Gdansk last term. He played 24 times in Poland's top tier, suffering relegation as Lechia finished 16th in the 18-team division. Paulsen arrives following fellow goalkeeper Calum Ward's move from Fir Park to Queens Park Rangers and joins international team-mate Elijah Just in Lanarkshire. "I've got a great feeling coming in here," Paulsen said. "Obviously, I've been able to speak to Elijah about the club, and everything he has said has got me excited about what's to come. "I've had a wonderful summer with my country at the World Cup and feel fresh coming into this season. We have some huge matches just around the corner, and we all need to be ready for the competitive action. "I've spoken to the manager and have been so impressed with the way he has spoken to me. There is a clear vision, and I hope I can help the team achieve that." Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson added: "Alex had a hugely successful spell in Australia and New Zealand, where he received a number of personal accolades. He was also part of teams that liked to play a certain style of football, and they achieved their targets. "With Calum moving on, it was obvious that we needed to recruit in this position. We see Alex as a very similar type of goalkeeper in terms of his strengths."