How many new naturalized players will Vietnamese football have?

Vietnamese football is about to have more new naturalized players, as clubs in the 2025-2026 V-League are completing naturalization procedures for eligible foreign players.

Hendrio ( Hanoi , right) in a friendly match with Hong Linh Ha Tinh - Photo: HNFC

V-League 2025-2026 is a special season for Hendrio Araujo, Gustavo Santos, Janclesio Santos, Geovane Magno (Brazil) and Rimario Gordon (Jamaica). Because all 5 can play as Vietnamese players if they complete the naturalization process.

Hendrio will have citizenship soonest

The current runner-up Hanoi FC registered Hendrio as a naturalized player for the 2025-2026 season, when this midfielder has almost completed 5 years of continuous living in Vietnam.

Hanoi FC President Do Vinh Quang said Hendrio's naturalization process is going well. "We hope to complete it in August, in time to register before round 3 of V-League," he said.

If Hendrio can obtain Vietnamese nationality before the first transfer window closes at the end of September 14, Hanoi FC will add one more foreign player to make up the four registered slots. Currently, Hanoi FC has three foreign players: center-back Adriel Tadeu, midfielder Willian Maranhao and striker Floro Daniel.

Geovane Magno (center) in Ninh Binh FC shirt - Photo: NINH BINH FC

Chance for Janclesio and Geovane

Newcomer Ninh Binh Club has greatly increased its force, aiming to compete for achievements in the first season playing in the highest tournament of Vietnamese football.

In addition to domestic and foreign star players or quality overseas Vietnamese players, Ninh Binh Club also brought in two foreign players, Janclesio Santos and Geovane Magno, to use for the naturalized player slot.

Center back Janclesio came to Vietnam in July 2019. Last season, this 1.96m tall center back played for Becamex Binh Duong Club (currently Becamex TP.HCM).

Striker Geovane came to Vietnam in January 2019. Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club applied for Geovane's citizenship for the 2024-2025 season but has not received any results.

Currently, not counting Janclesio and Geovane, Ninh Binh Club has 3 other Brazilian players: center back Patrick Marcelino, striker Gustavo Henrique and Daniel dos Anjos.

After a near-relegation season, SHB Da Nang Club has focused on investing more in its personnel for the 2025-2026 season, especially naturalized players and overseas Vietnamese players.

In addition to signing a contract for the first time with Vietnamese-Russian player Vadim Nguyen, SHB Da Nang Club also brought in central defender Gustavo Santos for the naturalized player slot.

Because currently the Han River team has enough 4 foreign players: central defender Kim Dong Su (Korea), midfielder Emerson Santos (Brazil), striker Henen David (Togo) and Milan Makaric (Serbia).

Striker Rimario Gordon (Thanh Hoa) in a friendly match with Hoa Binh Club - Photo: THANH HOA FC

"Wild horse" Rimario has to wait

The presence of naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son has helped the Vietnamese team solve the problem of scoring goals. But Xuan Son alone is not enough for Vietnamese football to confidently advance to the continent.

Therefore, the fact that striker Rimario Gordon - former "Top scorer" of V-League 2022 - has had his naturalization procedure promoted by Thanh Hoa Club has received great attention from fans.

Currently, Thanh Hoa Club has 4 foreign players: central defender Mamadou Mbodj (Senegal), midfielder Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov (Kyrgyzstan), striker Lucas Ribamar (Brazil) and Rimario Gordon.

If Rimario’s naturalization process is completed before the first transfer window closes, Thanh Hoa FC will recruit more foreign players. Otherwise, the Jamaican striker will play as a foreign player in the first leg.

V-League 2025-2026 has only 2 naturalized foreign players

Not counting striker Nguyen Xuan Son who was not registered in phase 1 due to injury, V-League 2025-2026 currently has only 2 naturalized foreign players. They are striker Hoang Vu Samson (37 years old, Nigerian origin) and defensive midfielder Tran Trung Hieu (32 years old, Uganda).

Hoang Vu Samson was naturalized in 2018 and is currently playing for the rookie PVF-CAND. Tran Trung Hieu was naturalized in 2017 and is currently playing for Becamex TP.HCM.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bong-da-viet-nam-se-co-bao-nhieu-cau-thu-nhap-tich-moi-2025081514060668.htm