Striker Nguyễn Văn Toàn is in advanced negotiations to join Seoul E-Land Club of K League 2. Photo nguoiduatin.vn

HÀ NỘI — Striker Nguyễn Văn Toàn looks set to join Seoul E-Land Club in South Korea after his contract with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) expired at the end of the 2022 V.League 1 season.

The Hải Dương Province-born striker received many offers from domestic teams, but he wants to play abroad.

Toàn and Seoul E-Land Club have reached a preliminary agreement and are expected to formalise the contract soon.

Toàn has begun learning Korean while on duty with the national squad as they prepare for the upcoming AFF Cup 2022, taking advantage of coach Park Hang-seo's assistants.

The South Korean side was founded in 2014 and plays in the K League 2. Their home ground is Mokdong which has a capacity of 15,511 people. This team has just appointed Park Choong-kyun as head coach, formerly of Hà Nội FC.

Seoul E-Land is considered a suitable choice for Toàn instead of a team in K League 1. The striker is expected to have many opportunities to play, thereby maintaining his form.

Two close friends of Toàn in HAGL, Nguyễn Công Phượng and Lương Xuân Trường, spent time playing in the K League 1 but were unsuccessful.

Toàn, born in 1996, has played in the domestic top flight since the 2015 season.

Toàn and the national team finished second in the AFC U23 Championship 2018, winning the AFF Cup 2018, reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2019 and the final qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup.

In addition to Toàn, several players of HAGL are also preparing to bid farewell to the team. Striker Phượng is said to be negotiating with a team in the second division of the Japan Professional Football League, while Nguyễn Phong Hồng Duy and Vũ Văn Thanh are close to joining Nam Định. VNS