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About

Paul Okon-Engstler

Australian soccer player (born 2005)

Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler, also known as Paul Okon Junior, 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.

Paul Okon-Engstler

Paul Okon-Engstler
Personal information
Full name Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler[1]
Date of birth (2005-01-24) 24 January 2005 (age 21)
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 23 (0)
International career‡
2023–2025 Australia U20 17 (0)
2024– Australia U23 2 (0)
2025– Australia 7 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Australia
WAFF U-23 Championship
Runner-up2024 Saudi Arabia
AFC U-20 Asian Cup
Winner2025 ChinaTeam
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 April 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 June 2026

Paul Michael Junior Okon-Engstler (West Flemish: [ˈoːkɔn ˈɛŋstlər]: born 24 January 2005), also known as Paul Okon Junior,[a] 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

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 as a one-year-old when his father signed for the Newcastle Jets.[4] He started his career, as his father had, with Marconi Stallions, before moving to A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers.[4] In 2019, he moved back to Belgium, signing with Club Brugge.[4]

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.[5] He joined the Portuguese club in July 2022, signing a three-year deal.[5][6][7]

In July 2025, Okon-Engstler signed for A-League Men side Sydney FC on a three-year deal.[8] His debut for the club came against Western United in the opening round of the 2025 Australia Cup.

International career

Okon-Engstler is eligible to represent Belgium through birth, Australia through his father, and Cuba through his mother.[4][9] He holds Italian citizenship.[10]

In September 2022, he was called up to the Australia under-20 team, but did not feature.[11]

He made his debut for the Australia under-23 team during the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament.[12]

In June 2025, Okon was called up for the Socceroos squad for qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.[13]

On 31 May 2026, Okon-Engstler was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[14]

Style of play

A composed, left-footed defensive midfielder, Okon-Engstler is known for his range of long passes, and is capable of starting attacks from deep.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 April 2026
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Benfica B 2024–25 Liga Portugal 2 8 0 0 0 — 8 0
Sydney FC 2025–26 A-League Men 23 0 3 0 — 26 0
Career total 31 0 3 0 0 0 34 0

Honours

Australia U-23

Australia U-20

Notes

  1. ↑ "Junior" can be shortened to "Jnr" (as used on his Sydney FC jersey)[2] or "Jr".[3]

References

  1. ↑ Paul Okon-Engstler at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ "Paul Okon Jnr". Sydney FC.
  3. ↑ Clarke, George (11 February 2025). "Okon Jr ready to follow path blazed by his father". The Canberra Times.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  5. 1 2 Rosengarten, Jake (20 July 2022). "Paul Okon Junior joins Portuguese giants Benfica". sport.optus.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Paul Okon contratado" [Paul Okon hired]. slbenfica.pt (in Portuguese). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Sydney FC lands Socceroos Young Gun Paul Okon-Engstler". Sydney FC. 25 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Okon-Engstler: Australia is a match for any nation".
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Young Socceroos Squad Named for Four Continents Tournament in Spain". socceroos.com.au. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Olyroos squad named for Maurice Revello Tournament". Socceroos. Football Australia. 15 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Son of gun: Okon Jr. Earns Socceroos call-up". June 2025.
  14. ↑ "Popovic includes Volpato in Socceroos selection". 31 May 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Paul Okon Jr following in famous father's footsteps". theroar.com.au. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ "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.