South Island United Signs Oscar Van Hattum

Former Valour winger Oscar Van Hattum has locked in for the inaugural OFC Professional League season, signing with New Zealand side South Island United in Christchurch.

The competition will be the first fully-professional football league in Oceania, with the debut season representing seven countries over eight teams with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papa New Guinea, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia, and Vanuatu all represented.

Van Hattum, 23, signed for Valour FC with eight games left to play in what would be the club’s final season, though he only made a sole appearance for the side at the tail end of a match against Vancouver FC.

While Valour had an option on him for 2026, the club’s suspension of operations set Van Hattum towards free agency by default.

The Auckland native’s best career spell had come back home with A-League side Wellington Phoenix, where he tallied six assists and two goals in 48 appearances after rising through the reserve ranks. He then went to Irish top flight side Sligo Rovers, adding one assist in 12 appearances before his brief stint in Winnipeg.

Van Hattum has represented New Zealand at the youth level, most recently featuring in all three group stage games for the U-23s at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

This month has been four members of the final Valour FC roster lock in their next moves, with Galway United signing both Kris Twardek and Gianfranco Facchineri, while Kesley Egwu signed with USL Championship side Monterey Bay this week.

The inaugural OFC Professional League season will kick off on January 17. The winner will be granted entry to the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, with the lone exception of South Melbourne due to their being based in Australia.