Welcoming young talents
Ahead of the 2025-2026 season, V.League is witnessing the return of overseas Vietnamese players, with many young names trying their hand at domestic clubs.
This is a clear difference compared to the last 3 seasons, when only a few teams such as Hai Phong, Hanoi, Hanoi Police, Nam Dinh or Hong Linh Ha Tinh are really interested in the source of players of Vietnamese origin.
It is worth mentioning that the age of overseas Vietnamese players returning home this time is still very young, mostly from only 19 to 26 years old and received positive reviews from experts. Names such as Chung Nguyen Do (20 years old), Damian Vu Thanh (22 years old), Brandon Ly (19 years old), Vadim Nguyen (20 years old) are typical examples.
In addition, the presence of Kyle Colonna (25 years old), Tomas Duong Thanh Tung (26 years old), Zan Nguyen (19 years old), Jessy Nguyen (24 years old), Li Teng Long (21 years old)... is bringing a new breeze to professional teams, while opening up great potential at the national team level.
The fact that many young players choose to return to compete in the V.League not only helps improve the quality of the tournament, but is also an opportunity for them to qualify for naturalization, thereby making a long-term contribution to Vietnamese football.
Faces like Brandon Ly, Vadim Nguyen or Zan Nguyen can completely be the future of the U23 or national team in the coming years if they maintain their form and integrate well.
This is also a strategic goal that the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has been pursuing for a long time. The plan to welcome overseas Vietnamese players has brought positive signals, especially when clubs show support by boldly investing, not hesitating to spend money on transfers and salary regime on par with foreign players.
Waiting for a big boost
Among the overseas Vietnamese players entering the V.League this season, Chung Nguyen Do is the most notable name. Accordingly, Ninh Binh reached an agreement to recruit the midfielder born in 2005. To complete this deal, the Ancient Capital team is expected to pay a large fee to Slavia Sofia - Chung's home club.
Not only talented, Chung Nguyen Do has Vietnamese nationality. This allowed Ninh Binh to use him as a domestic player, creating a personnel advantage in the new season. In addition, he is fully qualified and has the opportunity to wear the U22 Vietnam jersey at the 33rd SEA Games or even join the national team to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.
If Chung Nguyen Do shows high performance like Nguyen Xuan Son shined at the ASEAN Cup 2024, the investment that Ninh Binh has made will become worth it.
Of course, fans' expectations do not stop at the club level. They hope Chung Nguyen Do can create a turning point in the Vietnam national team, with a plan to rejuvenate the force and aim for the 2034 World Cup goal.
The appearance of quality overseas Vietnamese players not only increases competitiveness, but also sends a positive signal to Vietnamese-origin talents around the world. When they realize that V.League and the Vietnam national team are an ideal environment for development, the return journey of overseas Vietnamese players will be more open.
If exploited properly, the resources of overseas Vietnamese players will become a solid pillar, along with excellent domestic players and aspirational naturalized foreign players, creating a sustainable position for Vietnamese football in the near future.
