Pleiku, 8 July, 2025 – After finishing 9th in the 2024/2025 V.League season—achieving the target set at the beginning of the campaign—Hoang Anh Gia Lai have undergone significant changes in their squad heading into the new season.
The Mountain City club have bid farewell to several key players, including Minh Vuong, Chau Ngoc Quang, Bao Toan, Dung Quang Nho, and Brazilian striker Washington Brandao. The departure of such influential names has sparked concerns among Hoang Anh Gia Lai supporters about the team’s competitiveness for the upcoming season.
However, on July 8,Hoang Anh Gia Lai responded by announcing three new additions to the squad. The club signed Brazilian goalkeeper coach Higor Felliny Cruz. Born in 1980, Higor brings years of experience in developing goalkeepers at both youth and professional levels.
Alongside the appointment of a new goalkeeper coach, Hoang Anh Gia Lai have also reinforced their squad with two foreign signings. The first is striker Gabriel da Conceicao, a 2001-born Brazilian forward. Although primarily a center-forward, Gabriel is also capable of playing on the wings. He is a product of the Botafogo academy and has previously played for CRB, Figueirense, and Maricá in Brazil.
Most recently, Gabriel played for Boavista in the Brazilian Série D. During the 2024/2025 season, he made 21 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist. Gabriel is expected to fill the void left by departing striker Washington Brandao.
The second foreign recruit is midfielder Khevin Fraga, who is currently valued at €350,000. Before joining the Pleiku-based club, Fraga played for Hibernians in Malta, where he made 33 appearances, scored 5 goals, provided 4 assists, and helped the team win the 2024 Malta FA Trophy.
These moves signal a new direction for Hoang Anh Gia Lai as they aim to rebuild and strengthen the squad following the departure of several veterans. With fresh talent arriving and a strategic approach in place, the club hopes to rise higher in the standings in the 2025/2026 V.League season.
Leave a Reply