Culture - Sports

Goalkeeper Lam to leave Thailand for Japanese league

Dang Van Lam looks set to be the first Vietnamese player to compete in Japan’s J1 League after reportedly signing a deal with Cerezo Osaka FC.
Goalkeeper Lam to leave Thailand for Japanese league ảnh 1Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam is said to have signed a deal with J1 League side Cezero Osaka. (Photo: laodong.com)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Dang Van Lam looks set to be the first Vietnameseplayer to compete in Japan’s J1 League after reportedly signing a deal withCerezo Osaka FC.

Negotiationsbetween Lam and Cerezo Osaka are done and a transfer deal between hiscurrent team Muangthong United of the Thai League 1 and Osakahas reportedly been agreed.

Detailshave not been revealed yet but the Japanese powerhouse is believed to have paidMuangthong 1 million USD to sign Lam.

Vietnam’sNo 1 goalkeeper’s contract with Muangthong United was set to expire on May31, 2022.

Neitherclub has made an official announcement of the deal as yet.

BeforeLam, Vietnamese players Le Cong Vinh (Consodale Sapporo, 2013), Nguyen CongPhuong (Mito Hollyhock, 2016) and Nguyen Tuan Anh (Yokohama FC, 2016) allplayed in Japan's second tier, the J2 League.

Lammoved from Vietnam’s Hai Phong FC to Muangthong United in early 2019. Heperformed well in his first year but an ankle injury led to an up and down2020, leading to his benching.

Movingto his new club, Lam will have to fight for his berth in the first team againstKim Jin-hyeon and Ahn Jun-su of the Republic of Korea and locals Shu Mogi andTakumi Nagaishi.

However,Lam, 27, cannot travel to Cerezo Osaka at present as Japan has closed itsborders at least until February because of the pandemic.

CerezoOsaka placed fourth last season behind Kashima Antlers, Sanfreece Hiroshima andFC Tokyo, qualifying for the AFC Champions League’s play-offs this April.

Establishedas Yanmar Diesel in 1957, the club, changed its name several times beforebecoming Cerezo Osaka in 2018. They were promoted to J1 League in 1995. Theirbest result is third in 2010 and 2017. They won the J.League Cup in 2017, theEmperor's Cup and the Super Cup in 2018.

“Itis clearly a big step in his career. I am not surprised with this news becausehe is one of the best players in Vietnam’s team and strongly support him inthis move,” said pundit Nguyen Quang Huy.

“Withhis abilities I believe he will take his chance and do it well, making it astrong push for our football.”

PunditNgo Quang Tung added that Japan is Asia's leading football country andwhile Lam will have to work hard for his place in the first team, themove was good news for him and Vietnam.

Lamis considered one of ASEAN's top goalkeepers and won the AFF Cup in 2018 withthe Vietnamese national team./.
VNA
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