Overview
- Payne confirmed Friday that he has signed a one-year contract with Club Olimpia and Wellington Phoenix said the sale was agreed for an undisclosed fee with the move to be ratified after a post–World Cup medical.
- An Argentine influencer, Valen Scarsini (El Scarso), launched a campaign in late May that pushed Payne’s Instagram from roughly 4,700 followers to reports of about 5.8–6 million in mid‑June.
- The sudden spike in visibility prompted scouting and inquiries from clubs in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mexico before Olimpia completed the agreement.
- Payne has remained an active starter for New Zealand at the World Cup, playing 77 minutes in the 2-2 opener with Iran, and said he saw the Olimpia move as a chance to test himself in South American competitions.
- Club Olimpia is one of Paraguay’s most decorated teams and competes in continental tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, a context that helps explain why the club and player viewed the viral surge as a timely professional opportunity.