Marley Leuluai in 2026: Net Worth and Salary, Age, Stats, Nationality, Transfer Values, and FAQs

Who Is Marley Leuluai?

Marley Johannes Leuluai is a young professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder, and at times as a defender. He was born on 8 November 2006 in Manly, Sydney, while his father was playing rugby league for the Manly Sea Eagles. The family later moved to England, where Marley basically grew up. He picked up football at the age of seven and slowly drifted away from rugby, even though the sport runs deep in his family.

He spent time in the Blackburn Rovers academy, then moved to Manchester City, before joining Burnley at the end of the 2022 to 2023 season on a scholarship. On his 17th birthday in November 2023, he signed his first professional contract with Burnley, which runs through the summer of 2026. In March 2026, he was sent out on loan to Marine AFC to get senior minutes under his belt.

Early Life and Family Background

Marley comes from a sporting family that is well known in rugby league. His father Kylie Leuluai played for the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and later had a very successful nine year spell with Leeds Rhinos, where he won six titles. Kylie also represented Samoa and New Zealand Maori. His cousins Thomas and Macgraff Leuluai, as well as his uncle James Leuluai, also played the sport at a high level.

Marley moved to England when he was only three weeks old. He grew up in Manchester, where his school happened to be football mad, and that is really how the game got into him. He attended St Bede's College through an arrangement with Manchester City. Even with all that rugby league heritage around him, football turned out to be the path he wanted to walk.

Nationality and Heritage

Marley represents New Zealand at international level and has played for the New Zealand under 17 team. He even captained the Kiwis during their qualification run for the FIFA Under 17 World Cup. His father is of Samoan and Maori descent, while his mother is of Samoan and Dutch heritage. He is affiliated with the Ngati Wai iwi through his father.

Because he was born in Australia, grew up in England, and represents New Zealand, his international career has options. So far he has shown strong loyalty to New Zealand, and in interviews he has said he always wanted to play for the All Whites and not any other country.

Marley Leuluai Career and Stats in 2026

As of the 2025 to 2026 season, Marley is on the books at Burnley FC and is part of their under 21 setup. He has made appearances for the Burnley U21 team in the Premier League 2 and the National League Cup. He spent a short period at Stoke City U18 earlier in his career, and his only senior international experience so far is with New Zealand at the Under 17 World Cup in 2023, which was held in Indonesia.

In March 2026, Burnley sent him on loan to Marine AFC in the National League North. The idea behind the move is simple. He needs minutes against grown men in real competitive football, and the U21 league cannot fully provide that. The loan should help him develop physically and tactically before he tries to push for a first team spot at Burnley.

Key Stats Snapshot

Position: Defensive Midfielder, also plays as a defender

Burnley U21 (2025 to 2026 season): 10 appearances in Premier League 2 and 3 in the National League Cup

New Zealand U17 (2023 World Cup): 3 appearances, 1 assist

Jersey number at Burnley: 53

Preferred foot: Right

Marley Leuluai Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Marley is still very early in his professional career, so his earnings are nowhere near the headline numbers you see for senior Premier League players. He is on a young professional contract with Burnley, and most of his income comes from his club wages, with smaller boots and apparel arrangements likely on the side.

Based on Icon Polls findings, his net worth in 2026 sits somewhere between $200,000 and $300,000. That number reflects his age, his contract length, the fact that he is yet to play senior first team football for Burnley, and the realistic earnings of a 19 year old academy graduate on loan at a National League North club. As he moves up the ladder, those figures should change quickly.

Estimated Salary

Young pros on first contracts at clubs like Burnley typically earn modest weekly wages, often in the low thousands per week, depending on appearance bonuses and add ons. His exact salary is not made public, but it lines up with what most teenagers in his position would be earning in the English football pyramid.

Marley Leuluai Transfer Value in 2026

Public market value sources list Marley at around €120,000 in 2026. That figure can feel small, but it is normal for a 19 year old who has not yet broken into the senior team. His value is driven more by potential than by results so far.

If he kicks on at Marine, returns to Burnley and earns first team minutes, or pushes into the senior New Zealand setup, that valuation has plenty of room to grow. Icon Polls notes that players in similar situations who break into first team football can see their market value rise sharply within a single season.

Position and Playing Style

Marley plays mostly as a defensive midfielder, with the ability to drop into central defence when needed. He stands at 1.81 metres, so he has the frame to compete physically, and he is right footed. His style suits the modern game, with an emphasis on reading play, breaking up attacks and starting moves with calm passing rather than long balls.

At Burnley, he has been developing under a system that values possession and structured build up. He has said in interviews that this style suits him because it matches the kind of football he has played all his life. The loan at Marine is now testing whether he can do those things at adult level.

Why Marley Leuluai Is Worth Following in 2026

There are a few reasons fans, scouts and journalists keep their eyes on him. He carries a recognisable family name, but he is making his way in a completely different sport. He has international experience at youth level, a Premier League club contract, and he is at the right age to step up. Add the multicultural background, and you have a player with a story worth telling.

Icon Polls estimates that he is one of the most searched New Zealand under 20 footballers based in England right now, even though he has not yet played a senior competitive game for Burnley's first team. That kind of attention often comes before the breakthrough rather than after it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marley Leuluai

1. Who is Marley Leuluai?

Marley Leuluai is a New Zealand youth international footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. He is currently on the books at Burnley FC in England and is on loan at Marine AFC in 2026.

2. How old is Marley Leuluai in 2026?

He is 19 years old. He was born on 8 November 2006.

3. Where was Marley Leuluai born?

He was born in Manly, Sydney, Australia, while his father was playing rugby league for the Manly Sea Eagles.

4. What is Marley Leuluai's nationality?

He represents New Zealand at international level and is also eligible to play for England. His heritage is Samoan, Maori and Dutch.

5. Who is Marley Leuluai's father?

His father is Kylie Leuluai, a former rugby league international who played in the NRL and won six titles with Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League.

6. What position does Marley Leuluai play?

He plays mostly as a defensive midfielder and can also play as a centre back.

7. What club does Marley Leuluai play for in 2026?

He is contracted to Burnley FC and is currently on loan at Marine AFC in the National League North.

8. How tall is Marley Leuluai?

He is 1.81 metres tall, which is about 5 feet 11 inches.

9. What is Marley Leuluai's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth at between $200,000 and $300,000 in 2026, based on his age, contract and career stage.

10. What is Marley Leuluai's transfer value in 2026?

His market value is reported at around €120,000 in 2026.

11. What is Marley Leuluai's salary?

His exact salary is private, but it is in line with a young professional contract at a club that has been in the Premier League and Championship.

12. When did Marley Leuluai sign for Burnley?

He signed his first professional contract with Burnley on his 17th birthday, 8 November 2023, after joining from the Manchester City academy.

13. Did Marley Leuluai play for Manchester City?

Yes. He was in the Manchester City academy before joining Burnley in the 2022 to 2023 season.

14. Has Marley Leuluai played for the New Zealand national team?

He has played for the New Zealand under 17 team and captained them during qualification. He represented them at the 2023 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Indonesia.

15. Why did Marley Leuluai choose football over rugby league?

He grew up in England, where football is the dominant sport, especially at school. He loved rugby league, but football opportunities opened up and he followed that path.

16. Who are Marley Leuluai's cousins?

His cousins include Thomas Leuluai and Macgraff Leuluai, both well known rugby league players. His uncle is James Leuluai.

17. What is Marley Leuluai's jersey number?

He wears the number 53 shirt at Burnley.

18. Is Marley Leuluai signed to an agency?

Yes, he is represented by SEG, also known as the Stellar Group.

19. What school did Marley Leuluai attend?

He went to St Bede's College in Manchester through a school arrangement set up while he was at Manchester City.

20. What is next for Marley Leuluai?

His loan spell at Marine AFC is meant to give him senior minutes. After that, he will be looking to push for a new Burnley contract and a place in their first team setup, while continuing to develop with New Zealand at youth and senior level.

21. Is Marley Leuluai related to any other footballers?

Most of his sporting relatives, including his father, uncle and cousins, are from rugby league. He is the first in his immediate family to take a serious professional path in football.

22. What languages or cultural identities does Marley Leuluai represent?

He proudly represents his Samoan, Maori and Dutch heritage. He wore a traditional Samoan ulafala necklace during his first professional contract signing at Burnley.