Speaking to the media on the evening of February 24, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy confirmed that she has officially submitted an application for the Asian foreign player draft for the 2025/26 season of the South Korean V-League.
“I have completed all necessary paperwork as required by the Korea Volleyball Federation and am now awaiting further announcements. At this moment, I can only share this information and will wait for the decision from the leadership of VTV Binh Dien Long An,” Thanh Thuy briefly stated.
Additionally, a representative from VTV Binh Dien Long An’s management confirmed that Thanh Thuy had applied for the opportunity to play in South Korea with the club’s approval.
“The club has provided Thanh Thuy with an open policy, allowing her to seek playing opportunities abroad annually. She can explore suitable options and inform us of her plans, after which we will facilitate the legal procedures for her transfer. Last year, she played in Indonesia under a similar arrangement. Thanh Thuy is the only player in the club granted this privilege due to her high professional level.”
Previously, according to information from KBS (the broadcaster holding exclusive rights to the South Korean V-League), Thanh Thuy was among 45 Asian female spikers who registered for the tryout for the 2025/26 season. This selection process is a routine event ahead of each new season, and in the past, Vietnamese players have also participated in tryouts seeking opportunities to play in the league. A notable change in this year’s selection process is an increase in the number of female applicants from 42 to 45, while the men’s category has 101 spikers.
For years, the South Korean V-League has been considered a dream destination for many Asian volleyball players. Beyond the opportunity to enhance their skills in a highly competitive environment, the league also offers attractive salaries for foreign players. According to statistics from The Spike, an Asian female spiker in South Korea could earn around $120,000 in the first year and approximately $150,000 in the second year if they meet the league’s professional requirements.
Regarding Thanh Thuy’s case, her application is currently at the initial stage of the online submission process. The 1997-born outside hitter will still need to undergo a professional evaluation and wait for official results.
At this moment, it remains unclear which club Thanh Thuy might join, and she still has ample time to prepare both physically and technically. In the ongoing 2024/25 season, Vietnam already has one representative playing in South Korea—Tran Thi Bich Thuy, who is currently with GS Caltex Seoul Kixx.
“For now, I will focus on competing with VTV Binh Dien Long An at the Hoa Lu – Binh Dien Cup (March 4-9) in Ninh Binh, followed by the first phase of the national championship (March 22-31) in Hanoi. My physical condition is excellent, and I am ready to enter the competitions in peak form. As for my application process, it will not interfere with my participation in domestic tournaments, as this has already been agreed upon with the club’s management,” Thanh Thuy shared.
If everything goes smoothly, South Korea could be the next destination in Thanh Thuy’s career. The 1.93m-tall outside hitter has previously played abroad for six different clubs: Gresik Petrokimia (Indonesia), Bangkok Glass (Thailand), Attack Line (Taiwan, China), Denso Airybees and PFU BlueCats (Japan), and Kuzeyboru (Turkey). Moreover, the Long An-born spiker may still have opportunities to return to Vietnam and compete in domestic tournaments, provided there are no scheduling conflicts.
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