In the second year of applying 2 overseas Vietnamese player slots for clubs, V-League is witnessing a new wave with many expectations. Most notably, Tran Thanh Trung (Chung Do) joined Ninh Binh FC with a record fee, said to be 15 billion VND. The talent of the player born in 2005 has been proven in the colors of the Bulgarian U.18 and U.21 teams. Although only 20 years old, he has played 62 matches in the first team of Slavia Sofia Club. Thanh Trung has Vietnamese nationality, so he is ready to debut for the U.23 Vietnam team in the qualifying round of the U.23 Asia tournament in September. This 1.75 m tall boy promises to bring quality additions to the midfield of the U.23 Vietnam team for the goals of the 33rd SEA Games in December or the U.23 Asia tournament, ASIAD in 2026.
Tran Thanh Trung (right) wearing Ninh Binh FC shirt will increase the attraction of Vietnamese football
Photo: Ninh Binh FC
In addition to Thanh Trung, Ninh Binh FC has also signed a contract with another 20-year-old Vietnamese player, Evan Abran, who used to play fullback for U.19 Lyon. This player, born in 2005, is expected to follow in the footsteps of Cao Pedant Quang Vinh, who has established himself at the Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) in the V-League and then the Vietnamese national teams. This season, CAHN Club has added another young and potential player, Brandon Ly, also born in 2005, a versatile player who can play in both defense and midfield while playing for U.21 Burnley (England). Unlike Thanh Trung, both Evan Abran and Brandon Ly will need time to complete the procedures to apply for Vietnamese citizenship.
Tran Thanh Trung is in the top 3 of the best young players in Bulgaria in the 2024-2025 season, and has the right to choose to play for both the Vietnamese and Bulgarian national teams. Therefore, Ninh Binh FC's signing of a contract with this 20-year-old midfielder is considered a great success, helping him to further cultivate his love for his homeland. "High-quality" profiles like Tran Thanh Trung will be an important boost, helping to increase the appeal of Vietnamese football, both professionally and financially, in the eyes of the families of overseas Vietnamese players.
Are there any Vietnamese overseas players?
In the second season of expanding the quota for Vietnamese players, V-League is witnessing a wave of overseas Vietnamese players spreading to clubs that were previously out of the trend. The Cong Viettel and HAGL have begun to accept overseas Vietnamese players such as Kyle Colonna, Damian Vu Thanh, and Ryan Ha. Da Nang Club, after a series of trial players, has registered Vadim Nguyen. Unsuccessful cases such as Li Teng Long (of mixed Vietnamese and Chinese descent) at Hanoi Club, Tony Pham at Binh Duong Club, or Tomas Duong Thanh Tung at Ho Chi Minh City Police Club... show that V-League still has a fairly high level of professional screening.
Adding in the outstanding players who have been in Vietnam such as Adou Minh, Le Viktor, Kevin Pham Ba... it is clear that Vietnamese football is receiving new blood, with increasing quality as the number of people returning increases. It is expected that the U.23 Vietnam team will soon have the service of Thanh Trung alongside Le Viktor, further down the line it could be Evan Abran, Brandon Ly... or even Julien Nguyen (born in 2006, playing in the Spanish 3rd division) who is being supported by VFF to apply for Vietnamese citizenship.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lan-song-cau-thu-viet-kieu-ve-nuoc-tu-luong-se-tao-ra-chat-185250801224307955.htm
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