Nguyen Duc Chien, a product of The Cong Viettel's youth academy, rose through the ranks alongside talents like Nguyen Hoang Duc and Duong Van Hao. He joined the first team in 2016, contributing to the club's V.League 2 title in 2020 and their first division championship in 2018.
This summer, the 27-year-old midfielder declined a contract renewal with The Cong FC to join Ninh Binh. However, Chien's contract with The Cong wasn't due to expire until 24/8/2025, while the domestic transfer window closes on 15/8. Remaining with The Cong until his contract expired would mean missing the first half of the 2025-2026 season with Ninh Binh. To facilitate the move, Chien agreed to pay The Cong 3 billion Vietnamese dong.
In a recent statement to the media, Chien said he paid the early termination fee to preserve respect for the club he'd been with since childhood. "After returning from national team duty, I was told to stop all team activities and train separately," Chien explained. "I wasn't allowed to participate in any team functions, even though my contract still had two months remaining. I don't understand why I was treated this way."
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Duc Chien training with The Cong FC on 5/3/2025. Photo: The Cong FC |
Duc Chien training with The Cong FC on 5/3/2025. Photo: The Cong FC
Chien's comments sparked controversy, prompting a response from The Cong FC. According to a club spokesperson, Chien informed The Cong management of his intention to leave on 12/6, after the Vietnamese national team's Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Malaysia.
"In subsequent training sessions, Chien's performance was subpar," the spokesperson stated. "He even asked coach Velizar Popov to be excluded from the match against Ha Noi in round 21 of the 2024-2025 V.League, citing fitness concerns, despite the team being short-handed. We always strive for victory, and only those who want to leave would say otherwise."
With negotiations failing, tensions escalated. The Cong FC removed Chien from the first team for the final matches of the V.League season and the National Cup semi-final against Cong An Ha Noi, which they lost 1-3. This left Chien disappointed, ending his season prematurely without a chance to bid farewell to the fans.
Chien stated his departure was driven by a desire for titles and higher ambitions than just a top-3 finish, as in previous years. He insisted his move to newly promoted Ninh Binh wasn't financially motivated, claiming he would have received a better offer had he stayed with The Cong.
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Nguyen Duc Chien leaves The Cong FC after 9 years with the first team. Photo: The Cong FC |
Nguyen Duc Chien leaves The Cong FC after 9 years with the first team. Photo: The Cong FC
However, The Cong representatives disputed this, emphasizing the club's philosophy of developing young talent to minimize reliance on the transfer market. The club values each player at a certain level and is reluctant to exceed it. "We question the player's true value," the spokesperson said. "Could we acquire a better foreign player for that price, or should we invest in our youth players? These are important decisions we carefully consider."
While acknowledging that unsuccessful negotiations are commonplace, The Cong FC affirmed their commitment to their transfer philosophy. "The Vietnamese football transfer market is complex," the spokesperson added. "We believe professional football demands professional conduct."
Chien, a versatile player capable of playing center-back or defensive midfielder, scored 16 goals and provided 8 assists in 134 appearances for The Cong. Last season, he scored two goals in 22 matches, playing 1,807 minutes.
Chien's three-year contract with Ninh Binh includes a substantial signing bonus exceeding 15 billion Vietnamese dong, paid upfront. This marks the Hai Duong native's first major professional contract.
Hieu Luong
