Striker Huỳnh Như (middle) and her teammates at Lank FC. — Photo Lank FC

HCM CITY — Striker Huỳnh Như will play for HCM City Club I in the second leg of the National Women's Football Championship, the Thái Sơn Bắc Cup 2024.

According to VTC News sources, Như has initially reached an agreement to return to HCM City. The two parties have successfully negotiated the terms of the contract.

Như is 33 years old and may be seeking one last major contract before retiring. HCM City I are the club that trained Như since she was a child, so she is understandably cautious about her future decisions. Her teammate Thùy Trang and head coach Đoàn Thị Kim Chi have continuously tried to persuade her to return to her former team.

Như now has attracted interest from other clubs, including Thái Nguyên, who are willing to spend over VNĐ1 billion to acquire her services for two years. Thái Nguyên have already signed several star players like Bích Thùy, Trần Thị Thu, Kim Thanh and Mỹ Anh.

Như's decision will significantly impact the 2024 national women's football championship. Thái Nguyên are currently ranked third, five points behind league leaders HCM City I.

Như has returned home after a two-year stint with Lank FC in Portugal, where she scored 10 goals and helped the team finish sixth last season. This season, Lank FC narrowly avoided relegation, with Như providing a crucial assist in the playoff match against Amora. VNS