Jai Emile Mau'u Ingham (born 14 August 1993) is a professional footballer who plays a winger for National Premier Leagues club South Melbourne. Born in Australia and of New Zealand and Samoan descent, Ingham has represented the New Zealand internationally.
Career
Olympic FC
Ingham started his career with Olympic FC seniors in the National Premier League while training to be an electrician. In July 2013, he was picked as one of Australia's top eight players outside the A-League. Selected in the QLD NPL football team of the year 2013.
Brisbane Roar
At the beginning of the 2013–14 National Youth League, Ingham joined Brisbane Roar's youth side. Scoring 13 goals in 11 appearances. Including a second half hat-trick that secured victory over Adelaide.
On 24 January 2014, Ingham debuted for the senior team, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute of a 2–1 victory over Wellington Phoenix.
Hume City
Ingham drew positive reactions while at National Premier Leagues Victoria side Hume City during the 2015 FFA Cup.
Melbourne Victory
Ingham trained with Melbourne Victory for a month ahead of the 2016 January transfer window and was signed as the club's first use of the Mature Age Rookie salary cap allowance. Ingham made his debut for Melbourne Victory against the Central Coast Mariners on 8 January 2016, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Fahid Ben Khalfallah in an eventual 3–3 draw.
Ingham made his first start for Melbourne Victory in their opening 2016 AFC Champions League match against Shanghai SIPG F.C. on 24 February 2016, in what was only his third appearance for the club. During the match, he scored his first goal for the club, scoring in the 31st minute in an eventual 2–1 win. He then went on to make his first A-League starting appearance on 6 March against the Central Coast Mariners, setting up both Besart Berisha and Fahid Ben Khalfallah for goals in a 2–0 win at Central Coast Stadium. Ingham scored the equaliser against Juventus F.C. in a pre-2016–17 A-League season friendly match at the MCG. Ingham scored his first A-League goal for Melbourne Victory on 12 November 2016, against the Western Sydney Wanderers, in an eventual 3–0 win.
International career
In May 2016, Ingham was named to the Samoan national squad for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup however he did not travel to Papua New Guinea for the tournament and was listed as an absentee.
In March 2017, Ingham was called up to the New Zealand national squad for World Cup qualifiers, along with his brother Dane. He made his debut on 28 March 2017 against Fiji.
Personal life
Jai is the cousin of Samoan international Johnny Hall and brother of Brisbane Roar player Dane Ingham. In addition to holding an Australian passport, Ingham also holds Samoan and New Zealand passports.
Jai has a Samoan-New Zealand mother and an Australian father.