Hanoi FC in Vietnam’s top-tier football league V.League 1 on Saturday officially signed Vietnamese-American center-back Kyle Colonna from New Mexico United FC in the U.S. second-division United Soccer League Championship (USLC).

The Vietnamese football club has inked a one-year contract with Colonna, whose mother is Vietnamese and father is American, after a successful trial period.

From 2018 to 2022, Colonna played for San Diego State University, making 69 appearances and serving as team captain for two years. 

His notable achievement was helping the team rank among the top 14 in the U.S. in 2022, which earned him a contract with New Mexico United FC in the USLC.

At New Mexico United, the 1999-born defender played 11 matches, scored two goals, and achieved a successful pass rate of 86 percent.

A poster for Vietnamese-American centre-back Kyle Colonna. Photo: Hanoi FC

On the day of his signing with Hanoi FC, Colonna shared that his mother always told him about Vietnam and cooked traditional Vietnamese dishes. 

He has long dreamed of returning to Vietnam, and he is excited to contribute to the team’s success in the 2024-25 season.

For the season, Vietnamese football will see a significant change as the Vietnam Professional Football League allows each V.League 1 clubs to sign up to two overseas Vietnamese players each.

Kyle Colonna is the second overseas Vietnamese player to secure an official contract in the V.League 1, following Jason Quang Vinh Pendant’s signing with Cong An Ha Noi FC.

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