OFFICIAL: Overseas Vietnamese dreaming of joining the Vietnam national team arrives at CAHN

Kevin Pham Ba joins Cong An Ha Noi, bringing with him experience playing in France, a V.League championship title, and the ability to fill multiple gaps in the defense next season.

Cong An Ha Noi Club has announced the signing of Kevin Pham Ba, closing the period when the defender of French-Vietnamese origin wore the shirt of Thép Xanh Nam Định. This may not be the most high-profile deal on the transfer market, but it carries practical significance for the reigning V.League champions ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Kevin was born on February 3, 1994, in Paris, stands 1.81 m tall, and is right-footed. He came through the youth system of Sochaux, then played for Sochaux B, Le Pontet, Troyes B, Marignane Gignac, Martigues, Schiltigheim, Versailles, Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, and Istres. Most of Kevin's career was spent in the third, fourth, and fifth tiers of French football—an environment demanding physical foundations, battling ability, and high tactical discipline.

The most notable milestone in his journey in France came in the 2021/22 season, when Kevin and Versailles reached the semifinals of the French Cup. He started in the match against Nice at the Allianz Riviera, facing a lineup featuring Jean-Clair Todibo, Khéphren Thuram, Mario Lemina, and Amine Gouiri. Versailles lost 0-2, but that experience showed that Kevin had once stood in a defensive system organized enough to go deep in the cup competition.

After returning to Vietnam in March 2025, Kevin quickly adapted to the V.League while playing for Nam Định. Over two seasons, he made 27 appearances and scored four goals in the national league, while also being part of the squad that won the championship in the 2024/25 season. His ability to play as a right-back, center-back, and occasionally take on a more advanced role on the right flank creates versatile value that CAHN can exploit.

Importantly, Kevin was not necessarily brought in to automatically claim a starting position. CAHN still has Vũ Văn Thanh, and has also just added young defender Phan Ngọc Tín. However, the capital club is preparing for a season with higher demands—from defending the championship to international matches. In that context, a player who is already familiar with the V.League, can change positions without disrupting the team structure, will become a valuable rotation option worthy of consideration.

Kevin is also being cautious regarding the citizenship issue and the opportunity to play for the Vietnam national team. Back in June, he stated: “That’s not happening. I haven’t received any information from the club. Obtaining Vietnamese citizenship is not easy either”. However, the 32-year-old did not hide his desire to stay long-term: “I love life here and I am always ready to contribute to the Vietnam national team if given the opportunity”.

For now, Kevin's value should probably be measured by his ability to compete, adapt, and help CAHN maintain intensity through a packed schedule. With multiple options on the right side and in the center of defense, the decision of when to use the French-Vietnamese defender could become a noteworthy detail in the coaching staff's calculations.