Van Duc officially parts ways with Song Lam Nghe An.

Chairman of Tan Long Group, Mr. Truong Sy Ba, said: "Song Lam Nghe An always strives and hopes that players will stay and contribute to the team for the long term. That is also the wish of all fans in Nghe An. This has been demonstrated by the fact that last year we signed contracts to retain key players and called back some veteran players."

However, once a player loses the motivation to contribute to their hometown team, SLNA cannot force them to stay. Regarding Phan Văn Đức, we respect his decision. We wish Văn Đức success."

Phan Văn Đức rose through the ranks of the Song Lam Nghe An youth academy. In 2017, he was officially promoted to the first team of the Nghe An club. After Khac Ngoc found a new club, Van Duc became a key player in Song Lam Nghe An's attack. He is one of the most important players for the Vinh-based team at the moment. In 2021, Tan Long Group took over Song Lam Nghe An, and Van Duc was the first name to have his contract extended by the club. The contract is for 3 years, with the fee undisclosed by both parties. In the 2022 season, although Song Lam Nghe An did not finish in the top 3, Van Duc played impressively, scoring 7 goals, becoming the top scorer for the Nghe An team.

Van Duc's explosive performance helped Song Lam Nghe An secure a resounding victory against Binh Duong. Photo: Chung Le

However, after successfully gaining promotion, Hanoi Police FC actively recruited a number of Vietnamese football stars. Among them, Van Duc was a name the team was determined to bring in.

On November 28th, the Hanoi Police Department posted an announcement on its Facebook page stating that the Hanoi Police Football Club had successfully recruited midfielder Phan Văn Đức.

The absence of Van Duc from the squad is a huge loss for the Nghe An team. However, this will also open up opportunities for young players to showcase their talent in the V.League 2023.

Duc Anh