The Phoenix have added an attacking midfielder with Champions League experience ahead of the new A-League season.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Wellington side announced the signing of Bulgarian Bozhidar Kraev on a two-year contract on Friday.
The 25-year-old has played 24 senior internationals for his country and last turned out for them in a friendly against world champions France in August last year.
Kraev has been contracted to Danish giants FC Midtjylland for the past five seasons, during which time he played against the likes of Liverpool and Ajax in the Champions League.
He said the offer from the Phoenix attracted his interest.
"I had a couple of other options but I had a good feeling about this.
"The A-League is growing and getting popular and I wanted to be a part of it."
He is hoping to "bring something different" to the Nix, after a frustrating final season in Denmark.
"I'm a creative player and my role is to score and assist goals.
"I want to play the maximum amount of games and help the Phoenix to the highest possible position in the league."
Head coach Ufuk Talay said Kraev had a number of good attributes.
"He's young which is a positive," Talay said. "He's 25 which I think is a good age.
"He's also energetic and when I spoke to him on the phone about making the move he was excited to come to New Zealand and play in the A-League.
"He's a lot bigger. At 186cms tall he's a good size. He's strong on the ball and deceptively quick for his height.
"But he's still technically good on the ball and he can score goals."
Kraev found the back of the net nine times during the 2019/20 season while on loan at Gil Vicente FC in Portugal's Primeira Liga.
He arrived in Wellington on Wednesday from Bulgaria and will soon join the team for pre-season training.
The Phoenix men have now signed 19 players for the upcoming A-League season, with the club to announce a further two or three additions over the coming months.