Sutton joined the Wellington Phoenix Academy in 2016 after relocating from Auckland. He began playing for the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the New Zealand Football Championship during the 2016–17 season, making four appearances, including two starts. Remarkably, he made his national league debut just two weeks before his 15th birthday, coming on as a substitute in an away match against Southern United. At the time, the Phoenix Reserves were leading 1–0 and seeking their first back-to-back wins in the team’s history.