CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Tuesday the club had signed New Zealand international Deklan Wynne to a multi-year contract ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The 27-year-old defender brings extensive experience at the club and international levels to the Battery, having previously played in Major League Soccer for Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Colorado Rapids, and USL Championship clubs OKC Energy FC and Detroit City FC. Wynne is also a current member of the New Zealand Men’s National Team, having recently been called up for the country’s pair of international contests against Australia in September.

“What attracted me to signing for the Battery was, of course, the history of the club and the successes had in the past, along with the way Coach Pirmann wants to play an attacking brand of soccer,” said Wynne. “I’m looking forward to linking up with my new teammates and coaching staff and creating a historic 2023 season that we can all be proud of when the year is over.”

Wynne was a core piece of Detroit City’s run to the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs last season, starting 36 matches while contributing three goals and eight assists across all competitions. His 2,940 minutes of action in league competition were the most by an outfield player for Le Rouge as he showed off his versatility in playing both as a left-back and left-midfielder during the campaign.

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa whose family emigrated to New Zealand when he was a teenager, Wynne made his senior international debut aged 19 years old on November 14, 2014, contributing an assist in New Zealand’s 1-1 draw against China.

Wynne has been capped by New Zealand’s senior team 16 times, featuring in World Cup Qualifiers and the FIFA Confederations Cup, and has tallied two assists.

Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann is elated to bring aboard the hard-working Wynne.

“Deklan is one of the best left-backs in all of the USL,” said Pirmann. “He had an incredible season with Detroit last year in leading them to the playoffs by providing double-digit goal involvements, while also consistently being a lockdown defender in the wide areas.

“Additionally, Deklan is a great footballer with good quickness, agility and stamina, making him the perfect mold of the modern-day fullback. He’ll feature in our aggressive system up and down the left channel. Battery supporters will enjoy seeing Deklan working with his teammates to fight each and every minute this season.”