Vietnam striker joins J-League 1 club

Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong has left Hoang Anh Gia Lai and signed a deal to join a club in J League 1, which includes 18 clubs in the top level of the Japan Professional Football League.

According to a source of VnExpress, Phuong's destination is likely Yokohama FC, which finished second in J-League 2 in 2022, enabling the club to be promoted to J-League 1 next year. Yokohama borrowed midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh from Hoang Anh Gia Lai in 2016.

Phuong is expected to leave for Japan early next year.

The 27-year-old is among the first students graduating from HAGL Arsenal JMG Academy, invested in by Vietnamese businessman Doan Nguyen Duc.

Phuong has been a key player for Hoang Anh Gia Lai. He played for the U23 team that finished as runners-up in the U23 Asian Cup 2018, and with the national team that won AFF Cup 2018.

The striker also used to play for Japanese club Mito Hollyhock, Korean Incheon and Belgium Sint Truiden.