Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc has officially joined Ninh Binh FC to compete in the 2024-2025 V-League 2 season. On October 8, Viettel FC (The Cong) confirmed the news with a statement: “Hoang Duc is one of the standout players developed through the Viettel training system.
After more than 13 years of dedication and growth, Hoang Duc has won 2 Golden Ball awards, 1 Bronze Ball, and helped Viettel secure the 2020 V-League championship along with many other accolades.”
Earlier today, Viettel FC agreed to terminate Hoang Duc’s contract early following his request. The club expressed their support and wished him success at his new destination. “Hoang Duc is a testament to Viettel’s talent development, and we wish him continued success as he embarks on a new chapter in his career,” the club said.
Hoang Duc’s new destination has now been revealed as Ninh Binh FC, where he will compete in the V-League 2 season with ambitions of helping the club achieve promotion. The 1998-born Golden Ball winner will team up with Dang Van Lam, Do Van Thuan, Tran Ngoc Son, and other top players as Ninh Binh aims for a strong push toward the V-League.
The future of Hoang Duc had been a hot topic of discussion toward the end of last season. In an interview with Thanh Nien, Hoang Duc revealed that he once had opportunities to play abroad, but those opportunities slipped away. He had initially hoped to stay with Viettel until January 2025, after which he planned to move to a new club as a free agent.
However, with Viettel agreeing to an early termination, the 26-year-old midfielder will now play for Ninh Binh FC, marking the second club of his career after Viettel, where he spent his youth and senior years. Hoang Duc was promoted to Viettel’s first team in 2019 after progressing through their youth ranks. In six years with the club, he made 141 appearances and scored 19 goals. He was instrumental in helping Viettel win the 2020 V-League title, finish as runners-up in the 2023 National Cup, and secure a bronze medal in the 2023 V-League.
On the international stage, Hoang Duc has represented Vietnam in 41 matches and scored 4 goals across various competitions. He has also won the prestigious Golden Ball twice, solidifying his status as one of the nation’s top football talents.
Before winning his first Golden Ball in 2021, Hoang Duc had the chance to move abroad, with opportunities in Thailand and South Korea, but both deals fell through as Viettel opted not to negotiate. As his contract neared its end, Hoang Duc declined an extension, and Viettel ultimately allowed him to leave.
Hoang Duc’s addition to Ninh Binh FC, alongside Vietnam’s Bronze Ball winner Dang Van Lam, makes the club one of the top contenders for promotion to the V-League. Meanwhile, Binh Phuoc has bolstered its squad by signing Cong Phuong and bringing in Japanese experts to strengthen its foundation. PVF-CAND, with a roster full of national and U-23 team players, is another strong contender.
With Hoang Duc in the mix, the V-League 2 season promises to be highly competitive and exciting.
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