Paul Okon-Engstler
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 January 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ostend, Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Sydney FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marconi Stallions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Western Sydney Wanderers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2022 | Club Brugge | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Benfica | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Benfica B | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Sydney FC | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | Australia U20 | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Australia U23 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Australia | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 October 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler (West Flemish: [ˈoːkɔn ˈɛŋstlər]: born 24 January 2005) is a professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Sydney FC in the A-League Men. Born in Belgium, he represents the Australia national team.
Club career
[edit]Born in Belgium while his father, former Australian international soccer player Paul Okon was playing for Belgian Pro League club K.V. Oostende, Okon-Engstler moved to Australia in 2006 when his father signed for the Newcastle Jets.[2] He started his career, as his father had, with Marconi Stallions, before moving to A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers.[2] In 2019, he moved back to Belgium, signing with Club Brugge.[2]
While representing Club Brugge at a youth tournament in Portugal, he was spotted by scouts from Benfica, despite Club Brugge's poor performances at the tournament.[3] He joined the Portuguese club in July 2022, signing a three-year deal.[3][4][5]
In July 2025, Okon-Engstler signed for A-League Men side Sydney FC on a three-year deal.[6]
International career
[edit]Okon-Engstler is eligible to represent Belgium through birth, Australia through his father, and Italy through his mother.[2] He holds Italian citizenship.[7]
In September 2022, he was called up to the Australia under-20 team, but did not feature.[8]
He made his debut for the Australia under-23 team during the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament.[9]
In June 2025, Okon was called up for the Socceroos squad for qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.[10]
Style of play
[edit]A composed, left-footed defensive midfielder, Okon-Engstler is known for his range of long passes, and is capable of starting attacks from deep.[11]
Honours
[edit]Australia U-23
- WAFF U-23 Championship: runner-up 2024[12]
Australia U-20
References
[edit]- ^ Paul Okon-Engstler at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d "Paul Okon-Engstler: el talento australiano del Benfica lleva una vida loca como un padre" [Paul Okon-Engstler: Benfica's Australian talent leads a crazy life like a father]. teknomers.com (in Spanish). 20 December 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ a b Rosengarten, Jake (20 July 2022). "Paul Okon Junior joins Portuguese giants Benfica". sport.optus.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Paul Okon contratado" [Paul Okon hired]. slbenfica.pt (in Portuguese). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ Delvaux, Martin (20 July 2022). "Zoon van assistent Paul Okon verlaat Club Brugge voor Benfica" [Son of assistant Paul Okon leaves Club Brugge for Benfica]. nieuwsblad.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Sydney FC lands Socceroos Young Gun Paul Okon-Engstler". Sydney FC. 25 July 2025.
- ^ "Italiano Okon-Engstler reforça equipa sub-19 do Benfica: "Clube lindo e histórico"" [Italian Okon-Engstler reinforces Benfica's under-19 team: «Beautiful and historic club»]. record.pt (in Portuguese). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Young Socceroos Squad Named for Four Continents Tournament in Spain". socceroos.com.au. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Olyroos squad named for Maurice Revello Tournament". Socceroos. Football Australia. 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Son of gun: Okon Jr. Earns Socceroos call-up". June 2025.
- ^ "Paul Okon Jr following in famous father's footsteps". theroar.com.au. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Subway Olyroos' Head Coach, Tony Vidmar has named an extended 26-man squad for the fifth edition of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship – Saudi Arabia 2024". Football Federation Australia. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Subway Young Socceroos' Head Coach, Trevor Morgan has selected a 23-man squad to represent Australia at the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025". Football Federation Australia. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.