However, despite this increase, only 10 overseas Vietnamese players (including naturalized players) were registered across 14 teams, a drop from 12 in the 2023/24 season. Moreover, not all these players made an appearance in the opening round of the league.

Some teams, like The Cong Viettel, have chosen not to recruit overseas Vietnamese players, focusing instead on developing homegrown talent. Coach Nguyen Duc Thang emphasized the club's priority on nurturing young players for the national team, though he acknowledged that skilled overseas players could fill important gaps and make the league more exciting.

Other teams, such as Binh Dinh, have faced challenges in integrating overseas Vietnamese players. Coach Bui Doan Quang Huy explained that while players like Tomas Duong Thanh Tung were recruited, they still need time to adapt to the league. He noted the difficulty of finding overseas players who meet the V-League’s standards.

Meanwhile, Hanoi FC received multiple applications from overseas Vietnamese players but selected only Kyle Colonna (USA), expressing satisfaction with their current roster.

Several overseas Vietnamese players, such as Kyle Colonna, Adou Leygley Minh, and Jason Pendant Quang Vinh, made positive impressions in the first round.

Adou Leygley Minh notably scored the winning goal for Ha Tinh against defending champions Nam Dinh, though Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong pointed out that it's still too early to assess the player's long-term performance.

Historically, many overseas Vietnamese players have returned to try their luck in the V-League, but not all have succeeded due to cultural differences and unmet expectations.

Nonetheless, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and VPF's decision to increase the quota for these players is seen as a positive move by experts, as it could improve the league's quality and potentially benefit the national team.

Dai Nam