The 27-year-old is no stranger to the side’s Memorial Park ground having starred for Manawatu in the 2009-10 season but did not feature in the squad last year.
His return will be a welcome addition to Stu Jacobs’ line-up as the new coach looks to rebuild after Manawatu posted its worst ever season last term, picking up just four points to finish bottom of the eight-team table.
Jacobs will be hoping Soromon can replicate the form of his last spell with Manawatu, which saw him earn the golden boot as the league’s top scorer.
He will join the club full of confidence after a successful winter season with Central League side Wairarapa United, whom he helped win the prestigious Chatham Cup in August.
Soromon has made a handful of appearances for Vanuatu since debuting in a World Cup qualification match in 2007 against Samoa and scored four goals in his second international against American Samoa.
In his previous stint at Memorial Park, he formed a unique all-South Pacific strikeforce with Samoa international Desmond Fa’aiuaso.
Despite scoring eight times for his country, he was not included in the Vanuatu squad for the Pacific Games, which took place in New Caledonia during August and September.
Soromon will find plenty of familiar faces at Manawatu as Wairarapa team mates Matt Borren, Nobuyoshi Ishi, Nathan Cooksley, Pablo Moya and Pita Rabo have all also been included in the squad.
Of that group, Fijian Rabo is the only newcomer to this level and arrives after scoring the decisive goal in Wairarapa’s 2-1 win over Napier City Rovers in the Chatham Cup final.
Also returning to the side is midfielder Cory Chettleburgh, who starred for New Zealand at the OFC U-20 Championship in April but was a surprise omission from the squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup three months later. He recently had an unsuccessful trial with the Wellington Phoenix and will team up with younger brother Josh at Manawatu.
Jacob’s side begins its new ASB Premiership campaign at home against Canterbury United on October 23.

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