Jason Pendant Quang Vinh, has officially signed a two-year contract with Hà Nội Police Club. — Photo danviet.vn

HÀ NỘI — Overseas Vietnamese defender Jason Pendant Quang Vinh from France has officially signed a two-year contract with Hà Nội Police Club.

Not only is he a quality addition to the Police team, Vinh is expected to be a star of the Vietnamese national team in the future.

"I am very happy to be here and play for Hà Nội Police Club," Vinh said.

"I will try my best to contribute, or even have the opportunity to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey. I want to come here, I always consider Việt Nam my second home, because that is where my mother was born. I always want to make an effort for my homeland."

Vinh has played for France's U16 and U18 teams and made 33 appearances for Quevilly Royen in Ligue 2 in the 2023/24 season. It is an impressive achievement for Quang Vinh, as Vietnamese star Nguyễn Quang Hải, while playing for Pau FC in Ligue 2, did not find many opportunities to play.

If the naturalisation process goes quickly and smoothly, fans hope that the 27-year-old defender will be able to participate in the AFF Cup 2024 at the end of the year.

After Filip Nguyễn, Patrik Lê Giang, and now Vinh, Hà Nội Police are considered an ideal destination for overseas Vietnamese players who have the desire and aspiration to contribute to the Vietnamese senior team. Filip Nguyễn joined the Police team on June 29, 2023, and just half a year later, he had Vietnamese citizenship and joined the Golden Star Warriors team to participate in the 2023 Asian Cup Finals.

When recruiting Vinh, Hà Nội Police's leaders also promised to support and create maximum conditions for him to soon obtain Vietnamese nationality and contribute to the overall achievements of the national team.

Vice President of Hà Nội Police, Trần Văn Hùng, said: "Hà Nội Police will create all conditions for Vinh to develop his talent, as well as fully support him so that he can soon obtain Vietnamese nationality and wear the national team jersey. That is the wish of the club's leaders, as well as Vietnamese fans when the team has another quality player."

Vinh is currently valued at US$544,000 by the prestigious transfer site Transfermarkt. Jason's value ranks second in Hà Nội Police, just behind Filip Nguyễn ($599,000) and above many teammates who are members of the Vietnamese team, such as Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh, Nguyễn Quang Hải ($381,000), Vũ Văn Thanh ($327,000), and Phan Văn Đức, Đoàn Văn Hậu ($245,000).

During his career, Vinh was valued at $981,000 when playing for New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer) in the 2019/20 season and $654,000 when playing for Quevilly Rouen (French second division, 2022-2024).

Vinh is considered a quality addition to Hà Nội Police's defence as the team has to compete in many tournaments at the same time, and defender Văn Hậu has been out of action for all of last season due to injury. VNS