Sullivan, 19, of Sydney, and Mechell, 17 of Cambridge, NZ, battled through six weeks of trials to earn the honours following the weekend’s finals at Pirtek Stadium.

The pair will jet to England in late November and will receive guidance and training from elite coaches and players as they fight for a place at the Nike Academy based at St. George’s Park in the UK, the home of England’s National Team.

Since 2009 The Nike Academy Most Wanted has unearthed a swag of young talent with 58 Nike Academy alumni going on to earn professional contracts.

Sullivan said he was ecstatic to be on his way to the UK to battle for a place at the academy. 

“This opportunity is amazing, I can’t believe it," he said.

“Football is my life. If I didn’t have it, I don’t know what I’d be doing with myself.

“I was really impressed with myself and the way I was feeling, touching the ball and my movement over the weekend.”

Mechell was invited to the Sydney finals after impressing coaches in the Auckland trials.

He said earning a spot on the plane to the UK was a remarkable step toward making his dream of becoming a professional footballer a reality.

“It’s what I do – I don’t really do anything else," he said.

“I just play football, it’s everything to me.

“I want to take it all the way and this is just a stepping stone hopefully. I really want this.”