New Zealand international goalkeeper Jamie Searle has completed another move in English football, joining National League club Wealdstone on a non-contract agreement after a brief spell with Eastleigh.
The 25-year-old has changed clubs for the second time in little more than a month, having joined Eastleigh on a short-term arrangement in September following his departure from Eastbourne Borough.
Wealdstone confirmed Searle’s arrival alongside fellow goalkeeper Sam Long, who has joined on a 28-day loan from League Two side Salford City. The two signings give the London-based club additional options as they continue their campaign in England’s fifth tier.
Searle’s latest move comes after several seasons spent progressing through different levels of English football, having originally left New Zealand in 2019 to pursue opportunities overseas.
Born in Whakatāne, the goalkeeper began his development with local club Whakatāne Town before representing Cambridge and Melville United. His performances earned him an opportunity with Aston Villa’s academy, marking the beginning of a career that has included several established English clubs.
Searle joined Swansea City in 2020 before moving to Barnsley two years later. He subsequently signed for Forest Green Rovers in July 2023, spending two seasons with the club before joining Eastbourne Borough in June 2025.
His spell at Eastbourne produced eight appearances in all competitions before he became a free agent.
The New Zealander joined Eastleigh on 18 September 2026, but his stay with the Hampshire club proved short-lived, leading to another move within the National League.
Unlike a conventional fixed-term contract, Searle’s non-contract agreement with Wealdstone gives both parties greater flexibility, although the club has not announced how long he is expected to remain.
At international level, Searle has made one senior appearance for New Zealand, featuring throughout the 90 minutes against New Caledonia during the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in March 2022.
He was also a member of the New Zealand squad at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where the OlyWhites reached the quarterfinals.
Those experiences place him among a group of New Zealand goalkeepers continuing their careers within the English football pyramid, although establishing regular first-team opportunities remains an important objective.
Wealdstone’s decision to strengthen their goalkeeping department provides Searle with another opportunity to compete for playing time at National League level.
For the former All Whites goalkeeper, the move represents a chance to regain stability and build momentum after a period featuring several changes of club.
His immediate challenge will be to establish himself in Wealdstone’s squad and earn opportunities on the pitch as the club continues its domestic campaign.
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