Danish goalkeeper William Tønning has revealed that the warmth of the people of Vanuatu played a decisive role in his decision to join Vanuatu United for the 2027 OFC Professional League season. Speaking exclusively to Oceania Football Center, the 27-year-old reflected on his experience in Port Vila, his emotional departure from Napier City Rovers and his ambitions to become one of the competition’s leading goalkeepers.
Tønning’s arrival at Vanuatu United followed a successful trial during September’s two-match series against Australian A-League club Central Coast Mariners. The goalkeeper started the historic 3-2 victory at Freshwater Stadium on September 9, when Vanuatu United became the first professional club to win a match between two fully professional teams on Vanuatu soil.
The Chiefs subsequently defeated the Mariners 1-0 in the second encounter, completing an impressive sweep against their Australian opponents. However, for Tønning, the experience extended far beyond the results on the pitch.
“I have been following the OFC Pro League since its inception, since I had a few mates who played in the league last year. Having the opportunity to come to Vanuatu and meet the people in and around the club made a big difference in my decision making,” he told OFCe.
“I was stunned by the beauty of Vanuatu and the kindness and openness of the locals. I am excited to be a part of what is being built at Vanuatu United and getting to experience the immense love and passion for football in Vanuatu.”
Despite having played in several European countries and spending two periods in New Zealand, Tønning admitted that his first experience in Vanuatu left a particularly strong impression.
He recalled being welcomed immediately by his new teammates and receiving similar hospitality from people he encountered during his time in Port Vila.
“I felt welcomed in the changing room from the first minute and had lots of good chats with locals in the streets and in shops. Vanuatu is a beautiful place and I look forward to exploring the country.”
The atmosphere at Freshwater Stadium also reinforced his enthusiasm for the project. With Vanuatu United preparing to host part of the 2027 OFC Pro League season, Tønning believes the opportunity to bring professional football directly to local supporters could become one of the club’s greatest strengths.
“Experiencing the passion for football in Vanuatu was a fantastic experience. The atmosphere for the games against CCM was great and it’s going to be exciting for the club and for the whole country to have a hub in Vanuatu and to pack out the stadium.”
Having experienced the club’s environment firsthand, the goalkeeper no longer had doubts about his next destination.
“After visiting the country and meeting the great people in and around the club it was a no brainer. It is going to be tough to leave Napier and a club I love very much, but I am very excited to start a new chapter in Vanuatu.”
The decision meant leaving Napier City Rovers shortly after helping the New Zealand club win the 2026 Central League championship, ending Wellington Olympic’s five-year dominance of the competition.
Tønning first joined Napier in 2024 and established himself as a reliable goalkeeper during a successful season that saw Rovers narrowly miss qualification for the National League Grand Final.
He subsequently returned to Europe, representing Swedish side Ängelholms FF and Icelandic club KA Akureyri in 2025 before joining Östersunds FK in early 2026.
His return to Napier for the 2026 campaign proved particularly successful. The goalkeeper helped Rovers secure their first Central League title since 2018, with the team finishing two points ahead of Wellington Olympic.
For Tønning, however, his connection with Napier is about much more than the silverware.
“This is my second stint in New Zealand and with NCR. I have very fond memories from here and I feel lucky to have been a part of what I consider the most special club in New Zealand,” he explained.
“We managed to win a league title this year, so I leave with a happy heart. I have met great people and made friends for life here and will always cherish my time here in New Zealand.”
His extensive career has taken him through Denmark, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and New Zealand, providing an interesting perspective on the development of football in Oceania.
Having witnessed the evolution of New Zealand football across two separate periods, Tønning believes the country is moving in a positive direction, particularly with the emergence of additional professional opportunities.
“Football in New Zealand is definitely on the up. Football is huge among the youth here and having two A-League teams along with two OFC Pro League teams is opening pathways for aspiring footballers in New Zealand to strive for and look up to.”
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the country still faces challenges in developing its facilities and closing the gap with more established football environments.
“Compared to top leagues in Europe there is still some way to go of course, but with more and more qualified coaches coming through and more professional opportunities opening up both for players and coaches, the potential is there.”
Now preparing for a different challenge in Vanuatu, Tønning joins a squad that reached the semi-finals of the inaugural OFC Professional League season and has undergone considerable reinforcement during the offseason.
Vanuatu United have recruited several prominent domestic footballers, including players who represented Galaxy FC during their successful 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League campaign.
The club will also begin the upcoming season under a new coaching structure involving former Auckland City coach Albert Riera and Vanuatu Football Federation technical director Emerson Alcântara.
Despite the expectations surrounding the Chiefs, Tønning is reluctant to establish specific collective objectives before beginning preparations with his new teammates.
“I don’t want to put any season objectives out there before preseason meetings and goal setting, but I want us to make the people of Vanuatu proud and play some good and entertaining football.”
His personal ambitions, however, are clear.
“On a personal note I want to be one of the top keepers in the league and will do my very best to contribute to the team’s success.”
Beyond his goalkeeping responsibilities, Tønning is also interested in contributing to the development of younger players in Vanuatu.
He believes the experience accumulated throughout his career could be particularly useful in a squad featuring several emerging national team players.
“I want to bring my character in the changing room and on the pitch and influence the training environment positively. I bring a decent amount of experience to the table and am looking forward to sharing some of my knowledge to the young lads in the squad and hopefully get a chance to coach some young aspiring ni-Vanuatu goalkeepers.”
That willingness to contribute beyond his own performances reflects his wider appreciation for the opportunities created by Oceania’s new professional competition.
For a goalkeeper familiar with the structures of European and New Zealand football, the geographical challenges and ambitions of the OFC Pro League make it a particularly interesting project.
“I think it’s a great initiative and one of the most fascinating leagues in the world when you factor in the distances between clubs and the hub format,” he said.
“It’s an ambitious league with a great goal of bringing Oceania together through football and giving nations a chance to have professional football where it was not previously viable. It gives young footballers around Oceania something to work for and suddenly makes the chance of making a living from football a real possibility.”
Vanuatu United will begin their 2027 campaign against Solomon Kings on January 22, while Vanuatu is scheduled to host OFC Pro League matches for the first time during the fifth circuit series.
The prospect of playing professional football in front of the same supporters who welcomed him during September’s friendlies is something Tønning is particularly looking forward to.
Off the pitch, he hopes to explore the country and experience more of its culture, including visiting different islands whenever his football commitments allow.
“I am lucky and privileged to get the chance to live in a place not many people from my side of the world get to experience, and I will not take that for granted.”
His final message to Vanuatu United supporters reflects the connection he has already developed with the country.
“Thank you for welcoming me with open arms when I visited your beautiful country. I am looking forward to giving my all for the club and for all of Vanuatu and will feel a great sense of pride wearing the Vanuatu United shirt. We have a great season ahead I’m sure. See you soon.”
For Tønning, the move represents another chapter in a career that has already crossed several borders. This time, however, the opportunity offers something different: a chance to contribute to the development of professional football in a country where the sport occupies a special place in everyday life.
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