French-Vietnamese striker disappears after debut in V-League

Expected to make an impact in the second half of the 2025/2026 V-League season, French-Vietnamese midfielder Phi Long Karim Tran has yet to leave a mark and has frequently been absent from SLNA's lineup.

During the mid-season transfer window of the 2025/2026 V-League, SLNA attracted attention by signing French-Vietnamese midfielder Phi Long Karim Tran. Born in 2004, holding both French and Algerian citizenships, standing 1.76m tall, right-footed, and capable of playing as a winger or wide forward, he was expected to bring speed and creativity to the club’s flank. However, up to now, his name has almost vanished from the squad.

After more than a month with the team, Phi Long Karim Tran’s professional impact has been very limited. He has only played just over 30 minutes in the match against Hanoi FC, coming on at the start of the second half when SLNA switched to a 3-4-3 formation to chase an equalizer. Although positioned in his natural left wing spot and showing effort, his actions mostly involved cutting inside with the ball, lacking crosses with precision or clear game-changing moves.

In the 87th minute of that match, Phi Long Karim Tran was substituted off, and just two minutes later, SLNA scored. While this detail is not decisive professionally, it somewhat reflects the limited influence of the 21-year-old player. Since that game, he has been completely absent from the matchday squads.

In the 4-1 victory over The Cong Viettel, when SLNA returned to their usual 4-4-2 formation and performed impressively, Phi Long Karim Tran was still not utilized. This raises questions about his compatibility with the tactical system that coach Van Sy Son is building, especially as the team prioritizes balance and discipline in their lineup.

In reality, Phi Long Karim Tran’s issue is not attitude. He is considered serious and receptive in training. However, coming from a semi-professional environment in Europe — having played for FC United Richelle in Belgium’s fourth division — he lacks experience in a fully professional league. The pace, intensity, and tactical demands of the V-League represent a significant step up.

Meanwhile, on both wings, SLNA has more stable options like Ngo Van Luong and Tran Manh Quynh, who understand the system well and meet defensive requirements. With high internal competition and a limited squad that cannot afford much experimentation, it is understandable that Phi Long Karim Tran continues to be “missing,” even though this signing was not a major financial gamble.

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