Lâm’s move to HCM City Youth Club raises questions about his national team future

Goalkeeper Đặng Văn Lâm has officially left Bình Định Club to join HCM City Youth Club. — Photo danviet.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI — After much speculation, overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper Đặng Văn Lâm has officially left Bình Định Club to join HCM City Youth Club, who have just won promotion to the First Division (V.League 2).

The move has been confirmed by coach Nguyễn Việt Thắng of HCM City Youth Club. Lâm has signed a four-year contract with the rookie team of the First Division.

According to Thắng, this contract is worth up to VNĐ6.8 billion per season. “We have brought in a series of quality contracts for the goal of promotion to the V.League 1. Among them, Lâm is the most perfect addition to the position that the team is lacking. The contract has been signed, now we are waiting for the day Lâm joins the team,” Thắng said.

Lâm was born in Moscow and began his career with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. He was a key part of South Korean coach Park Hang-seo’s national team squad, making significant contributions to Việt Nam’s triumph in the AFF Cup 2018, qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup quarter-finals and the 2022 World Cup AFC qualifiers. Lâm has had more than 20 caps for the Vietnamese national team.

The recruitment of Lâm is a strategic move made by HCM City Youth Club to strengthen their squad and achieve their ambition of promotion to V.League 1.

Last season, the team successfully defeated Bắc Ninh in the play-off match to win a ticket to play in the First Division. The club has also recruited other rising stars such as Đinh Thanh Bình, Lê Ngọc Bảo, Đỗ Thanh Thịnh, Lê Minh Bình and Nguyễn Đức Việt, all of whom have played for the national senior team and U23 team.

Coach Thắng, who was an assistant to coach Philippe Troussier in the national team, is leading this new and ambitious squad. With the presence of Lâm and other quality players, HCM City Youth Club are aiming for the big goal of winning a ticket to play in the V.League 1 2025/2026 season.

Lâm’s move to the V.League 2 raises questions about his chance to maintain his starting position in the national team, where he is one of the pillars, alongside Nguyễn Filip. The competition for goalkeeper positions in the national team is fierce and Lâm needs to maintain his form and play consistently to remain the coach’s choice.

There have been many national players who have played in the V.League 2 in the past and maintained their good form, such as former midfielder Phạm Thành Lương. Lâm will need to affirm his value in any environment.

As scheduled, the Vietnamese national team will have short-term training sessions during the FIFA Days from September to November with international friendly matches with quality guest teams. The match between Việt Nam and Thailand in September will be an opportunity for Lâm to show his form. VNS