Truong Tuoi Dong Nai recruits a Serbian center-back

Truong Tuoi Dong Nai has once again shown its determination to invest heavily before the 2026/27 V.League campaign, confirming the acquisition of Serbian defender Filip Jovic.

Born in 2000, Filip Jovic previously represented the Serbia U18 national team and was trained in a professional football environment in this Eastern European country. Before arriving in Vietnam, the 1.85-meter-tall center-back spent several years playing in the top divisions of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and also featured for Slaven Belupo in the Croatian top flight during the 2025/26 season.

With strong situational awareness, tenacious tackling, and composure in defense, Jovic is expected to become a crucial anchor in coach Nguyen Viet Thang's system during Truong Tuoi Dong Nai's first season in the V.League.

This is the latest addition in the Southeast team's squad reinforcement campaign. Previously, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai had signed goalkeeper Pham Van Phong from The Cong Viettel to add depth at the goalkeeping position. The club also retained the core squad that contributed to winning the 2025/26 National First Division title, while terminating contracts with several players to free up registration slots for quality new recruits.

After securing promotion to the V.League, the club's leadership continued to place their trust in coach Nguyen Viet Thang, aiming to build a team capable of competing at the highest level of Vietnamese football. Transfer activities were carried out early to allow new signings more time to integrate into the team's playing style.

As part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai gathered for training from early July and have been practicing at their home base. Alongside completing the squad, the coaching staff is developing a regimen to improve fitness, refine tactical patterns, and organize friendly matches to assess the lineup before the new season begins.

Following their historic 2025/26 First Division championship and promotion, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai is showing serious preparation in both squad strength and professional standards.

The signing of Filip Jovic, along with previous additions, highlights the club's ambition to go beyond merely avoiding relegation, aiming to make a mark in their very first season back in the V.League.