CHERRIES have completed their first signing of the summer in highly-rated goalkeeper Alex Paulsen.

The 21-year-old arrives from A-League club Wellington Phoenix, where he has just been named in the division’s team of the season.

The New Zealander helped Wellington end the campaign in second place, with Central Coast Mariners eventually crowned champions.

Paulsen won a host of awards for his performances in 2023-24, including being voted as the league’s best goalkeeper and young player of the season.

Liverpool and Chelsea were also reportedly interested in the stopper, but Cherries have got the deal done, for a fee said to be £850,000, which could rise to around £2million.

Auckland-born Paulsen, who has African parents, is set to feature for New Zealand at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

Upon joining Cherries, Paulsen said:  “I’m humbled to be considered worthy of signing with AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

“It means the world to me, my family and to my friends to be offered an opportunity to play in the best league on the planet, which most aspiring young footballers only dream of.”

Cherries chief executive Neill Blake added: "We're very pleased to secure Alex's services. He's an exciting prospect with so much potential, and his development has been clear for all to see during an excellent season in the A-League.

"We look forward to welcoming Alex to Bournemouth in early July, where we plan to introduce him to Andoni and the rest of the team before he departs for what will be a great opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics."