Thể Công Viettel simultaneously locks in two Vietnamese national team players.

Thể Công Viettel has finalized a deal to recruit the national team pair Triệu Việt Hưng and Phạm Trung Hiếu ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Thể Công Viettel Club The club is showing strong determination to upgrade its squad before the 2026/27 season by reaching an agreement to sign two Vietnamese internationals, Triệu Việt Hưng and Phạm Trung Hiếu, from Hải Phòng. This is seen as a crucial move by the army-backed team to deepen the roster after a season filled with regrets in the title race.

According to a source from VTC News, all personal terms between the parties have been settled. The Hải Phòng duo will officially wear the Thể Công Viettel colors starting from the new season. Previously, the military club had shown strong interest in Vũ Văn Thanh but could not complete the deal. As a result, they quickly shifted focus to Phạm Trung Hiếu – a defender praised for his high energy and solid defending.

Phạm Trung Hiếu was born in 1998, developed his game and made a name for himself at Hải Phòng. His strengths include excellent stamina, good speed, and a fiery playing style. Impressive performances earned him a call-up to the Vietnam national team by coach Philippe Troussier in September 2023. However, in a friendly against Palestine, Trung Hiếu suffered a serious injury just minutes into the match. Since then, he has not been able to return to the national team under coach Kim Sang-sik.

Meanwhile, Triệu Việt Hưng has drawn more attention thanks to his versatility and modern football thinking. Coming through the HAGL academy, Việt Hưng was once seen as a promising central midfielder for Vietnamese football. However, a major turning point came when he joined Hải Phòng and was moved to left-back by coach Chu Đình Nghiêm. This change did not trouble the 1997-born player; on the contrary, it allowed him to better utilize his ball control and attacking support.

Thanks to consistent performances, Triệu Việt Hưng has caught the eye of several Vietnam national team coaches, including Park Hang Seo, Philippe Troussier, and Kim Sang-sik. Although he has not yet secured a regular starting spot in the national team, he is regarded as a tactically smart player capable of filling multiple roles. This is also why Thể Công Viettel has high hopes that Việt Hưng will become a key piece in the army team's tactical system for the upcoming season.

On the other hand, Hải Phòng are facing the risk of a serious talent drain. After coach Chu Đình Nghiêm left for Ninh Bình, the port city club continues to lose key figures such as Bùi Tiến Dụng and the duo Việt Hưng – Trung Hiếu. This is expected to create significant challenges for Hải Phòng during their rebuilding process, while Thể Công Viettel has shown great ambition with a series of bold moves in the transfer market.