A European-class overseas Vietnamese player makes significant progress in Vietnam

Vietnamese overseas midfielder Trần Thành Trung made his debut in the starting lineup of Ninh Bình club in the V.League, signifying an important turning point in the career of the young footballer born in 2005.

Ninh Bình club made a notable impression in round 8 of the V.League 1-2025/26 by fielding Vietnamese overseas midfielder Trần Thành Trung in the starting eleven against PVF CAND, a match between two newcomers this season. This was also the first official appearance of the 2005-born player in Vietnam’s top-tier league.

Trần Thành Trung was born in Bulgaria to a Vietnamese family and currently holds dual citizenship of Vietnam and Bulgaria. He developed through the prestigious CSKA Sofia academy before moving to play for Slavia Sofia, one of Bulgaria’s oldest clubs competing in the Bulgarian National Championship.

At only 20 years old, Thành Trung has already played over 30 professional matches in Europe, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist. This achievement highlights the remarkable development of a young player trained in a modern, disciplined, and distinctly European football environment.

Standing at 1.75 meters, Trần Thành Trung is regarded as a well-rounded central midfielder with strong situational awareness, spatial control, and intelligent defensive skills. In the 2024/25 season, he ranked among the top 5 U21 players with the most interceptions in European national leagues (excluding the top 5 leagues), an impressive statistic demonstrating his defensive ability and tactical intelligence.

Thanks to his outstanding performance, Thành Trung attracted the attention of Barcelona scouts and was frequently called up to Bulgaria’s youth teams from U17 to U21. However, his choice to return to Vietnam to play reflects his strong desire to contribute to his homeland’s football, a decision highly praised by experts and Vietnamese fans alike.

Joining Ninh Bình FC before the 2025/26 season, Trần Thành Trung gradually integrated into the new team thanks to his solid basic technique and flexible tactical adaptability.

The match against PVF CAND in round 8 not only marked a turning point in Thành Trung’s personal career but also demonstrated the trust the Ninh Bình coaching staff has in this young player. It was also a highly anticipated clash between two promising newcomers of the V.League 2025/26, promising to bring fresh energy to the competition.