The 23-year-old has popped up in Sweden and has signed a professional contract with Husqvarna FF to play in what is a third-tier league.
His mother, Debbie Stevens, who lives in Dunedin, told the Otago Daily Times her son had hoped to sign with Jonkopings Sodra but tore his calf muscle shortly after arriving in the country to trial for the second division team.
''He went straight into training after going over there and said his legs did not feel right,'' Debbie said.
''But he had been travelling for 40 hours or something and then did a heavy training. He ended up having a tear in his calf muscle and was out for a month.''
Jonkopings Sodra was heading to Spain to begin pre-season training and cut Stevens. But he liked the country and did not want to give up.
''He ended up going to Husqvarna just to train and get himself right again. He had a really, really good training session and they pretty much signed him straight away.
''But he has done it again,'' Debbie said, referring to her son's troublesome calf injury.
Part of the problem is it is so cold over there and the ground is frozen solid. The former All White is used to playing on the softer surfaces on offer in New Zealand.
He has been training in temperatures as cold as -12degC which has been a shock.
''It has been in the minus and snowing the whole time he has been there [since arriving at the end of January].''
While Stevens is hoping to play in a better league, he sees his stint with Husqvarna as the first step in his desire to forge a professional career. He is just hoping once his calf heals he can have an injury-free run.
Four years ago, Joel was called into the All Whites under coach Anthony Hudson and played three games for his country.
However, a series of shoulder injuries stymied his progress. He has been playing for Team Wellington in the national league for the past few years and felt the time was to press for a professional stint.
