Auckland City FC have added international experience to their attacking options with the signing of Somalia international Bilal Habib ahead of the Navy Blues’ 2026 New Zealand National League campaign.
The 25-year-old joins Auckland City from NPL Victoria side Green Gully SC and is expected to be available when the defending champions begin their National League season against Eastern Suburbs at Madills Farm on Sunday.
Australian-born Habib stands at 191cm and has primarily operated as a winger and forward. He arrives in New Zealand after building considerable experience within Victoria’s competitive state football system, having represented South Melbourne, Heidelberg United and Altona Magic before joining Green Gully for the 2026 season.
His international career adds another dimension to the signing. Habib has made six senior appearances for Somalia, all coming during the country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. His international debut came against Guinea in March 2025.
The forward also showed his ability to make an impact during a difficult 2026 NPL Victoria campaign for Green Gully. He scored as the Cavaliers recorded an important victory over South Melbourne and later found the net in a 3-1 win against Dandenong Thunder. Habib was also on target in a 2-2 draw with Preston Lions and contributed creatively during Green Gully’s improved performances in the second half of the season.
Auckland City will now look to transfer those qualities into the New Zealand game.
Habib has already trained with his new teammates and said the standards he encountered at Kiwitea Street immediately reinforced the reputation of the club.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things,” he said. “My first impression of the club in terms of the training sessions and the standards has been really good. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the National League as well and what’s to come from it.”
Although the Australian season has finished, Habib said he has continued training independently and believes he is ready to contribute immediately.
“The season’s finished in Australia but I’ve been doing my own training, staying on top of my fitness and making sure I’m ready,” he said. “In terms of being able to start games or impact games, I’m more than ready for that.”
His objective at Auckland City is equally clear. Asked by the club what he wanted to achieve during the campaign, Habib gave a one-word answer: “Silverware.”
He joins a club accustomed to exactly that. Auckland City enter the competition as back-to-back National League champions after retaining the title in dramatic fashion against Wellington Olympic in December 2025. The final finished 2-2 after extra time before City prevailed 7-6 in the penalty shootout.
The Navy Blues had a bye during the opening round of the 2026 championship, meaning Sunday’s meeting with Eastern Suburbs will be their first National League fixture of the season. It also comes after another demanding year in which Auckland City continued to compete domestically and internationally.
For Habib, the move represents a first opportunity in New Zealand football after several years in Victoria. For Auckland City, it adds a physically imposing and internationally experienced attacker to a squad attempting to extend one of the strongest winning records in Oceania football.
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