Saigon FC plans to buy a Japanese club

The two sides have reached an agreement but have disclosed no details yet.

A Saigon FC spokesperson said: "We can buy or sign a partnership deal with a team in the J3 League because it is suitable for the level of Vietnamese players. Young players can play in Japan more regularly. What we are doing is creating an environment for Vietnamese players to learn and improve."

Saigon FC already have partnerships with FC Tokyo of J1 League and FC Ryukyu of J2 League.

The club’s head coach and technical director are Japanese, as are a few players.

Saigon recently decided to send their star midfielder Cao Van Trien and Viettel FC midfielder Tran Danh Trung on loan at FC Ryukyu as the first step in a plan to send Vietnamese players to Japan to improve their game and Vietnamese football in the long term.

Saigon chairman Tran Hoa Binh said: "We can send not only Saigon FC players but also talent from other Vietnamese clubs if they allow us to."

Soon they plan to send two more players to play in the J3 League, and from 2022 will send six players every year to play in Japan.