Five foreigners to watch:

Anderson Lopes (Lion City Sailors, Brazil)

Anderson Lopes, Lion City Sailors’ new signing from Yokohama F. Marinos, at the Singapore Premier League champions’ training centre on July 15.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

In the coup of the season, Sailors signed Lopes from five-time J1 League champions Yokohama F. Marinos. The 31-year-old Brazilian striker clinched consecutive top-scorer awards in the J1 League in 2023 and 2024 and scored nine goals in 10 matches in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite, finishing joint-second with Riyad Mahrez and Jasir Asani, one behind Golden Boot winner Salem Al-Dawsari (10). He outscored Cristiano Ronaldo (8), Aleksandar Mitrovic (6), and Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Roberto Firmino (6 each).

Lee Dong-yeol (Albirex Niigata, South Korea)

Lee Dong-yeol has been capped at youth level for South Korea.

PHOTO: LEO SHENGWEI/PLAYMAKER

Since joining the local league in 2004, Albirex Niigata have brought in several Japanese forwards who have set it alight, including 2018 Golden Boot winner Shuhei Hoshino, 2021 top scorer Tomoyuki Doi and 2017 top scorer Tsubasa Sano. For the new campaign, they have added 21-year-old South Korean Lee, a recent U-21 international, on loan from third-tier FC Osaka. He is expected to challenge Japanese striker Shingo Nakano, who netted 26 goals in 31 games last season in all competitions, for the key role up front.

Aaron Evans (Tanjong Pagar United, Australia)

Aaron Evans has been named captain of the Tanjong Pagar United team.

PHOTO: TANJONG PAGAR UNITED 

After conceding a league-high 103 goals in 32 matches last season, Tanjong Pagar United have moved to strengthen their defence by adding experience with Aaron Evans. The tough-tackling centre-back, who can also operate as a defensive midfielder, brings a wealth of experience, having played in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Laos and Hong Kong. The 30-year-old Australian’s leadership ability has seen him handed the captain’s armband.

Trent Buhagiar (BG Tampines Rovers, Malta)

BG Tampines Rovers’ Trent Buhagiar fighting for the ball with Lion City Sailors defender Lionel Tan during the Singapore Premier League Community Shield match on Aug 16.

ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Former Australia U-23 and current Malta international Trent Buhagiar is set to spearhead Tampines’ charge across the SPL, Singapore Cup, Asean Club Championship and ACL 2. The 27-year-old, who has over 100 appearances in Australia’s A-League, comes with an impressive record of having scored seven goals in 12 AFC Champions League matches. The versatile Buhagiar showed his ability in Tampines’ 4-1 win over Lion City Sailors in the Community Shield on Aug 16 with two goals and an assist.

Yotsakorn Burapha (Hougang, Thailand)

Forward Yotsakorn Burapa from Hougang United during training at Our Tampines Hub on Aug 19.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

At 20, Yotsakorn Burapha has already been capped for the Thai national team and is highly regarded there. He has joined on loan from Chonburi FC and will look to score the goals Hougang need to finish in the top half after a disappointing seventh place last season. Yotsakorn scored a dramatic equaliser for Thailand in the final – deep in stoppage time – to level the match 2-2 against Indonesia and force extra time at the 2023 SEA Games en route to a silver, and also scored in Thailand’s third-place finish at the recent Asean U-23 Championship.

Five locals to watch:

Daniel Goh (Balestier Khalsa)

Balestier winger Daniel Goh training at Jurong East Stadium on Aug 15.

ST Photo : ARIFFIN JAMAR

After a disappointing 2024-25 SPL campaign with Albirex Niigata where he managed just 13 starts in 32 matches, Goh has returned to Balestier Khalsa for the new season. The 26-year-old winger, who has pace to burn, was last capped by Singapore in 2023 and will look to earn a recall to the Lions fold by rediscovering the form he produced with the Tigers two years ago, when he enjoyed a breakout campaign with eight goals and six assists in 23 appearances.

Zharfan Rohaizad (Hougang)

Goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad from Hougang United during training at Our Tampines Hub on Aug 19.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

With Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Susak and veteran Izwan Mahbud ahead in the pecking order at the Sailors, Zharfan, 28, has joined Hougang United on loan. He lost his starting spot at the Sailors, despite beginning the 2024-25 season as their first-choice ’keeper. But with uncertainty around Izwan’s minutes in the new season, Zharfan – who has yet to be capped for the national team – could be in contention for a starting spot for the Lions if he has a solid season with the Cheetahs.

Safuwan Baharudin (Sailors)

Lion City Sailors’ Safuwan Baharudin during the Singapore Premier League Community Shield match held at Jurong East Stadium on Aug 16.

ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

The Lions stalwart, who has joined the Sailors on loan from Selangor FC, will be making his return to the SPL after 14 years. The veteran centre-back, who had plied his trade in Malaysia’s top tier for several years, last played in Singapore’s domestic league in 2011, when he was an up-and-coming player with the Young Lions. Arguably Singapore’s best centre-back currently, the 33-year-old will hope to further strengthen the Sailors’ backline and end the season with his first SPL title.

Jacob Mahler (Tampines)

BG Tampines Rovers Jacob Mahler during the Singapore Premier League Community Shield match held at Jurong East Stadium on Aug 16.

ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

The sight of Mahler’s late equaliser for Singapore against China, sparking wild celebrations as the Lions came from behind to draw 2-2 at the National Stadium in March 2024, remains fresh in local fans’ minds. The 25-year-old, who can play in defence and in midfield, will hope he can spark similar joy among Tampines fans after joining from Thai League 1 side Muangthong United. A serious knee injury limited him to just two appearances in Thailand, so he will be eager to hit the ground running for the Stags.

Amir Syafiz (Young Lions)

Amir Syafiz (left, pink bib) in Singapore’s training session ahead of the international friendly match between Singapore and the Maldives on June 4.

PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

Amir will look to improve on a breakout season in 2024-25 with the Young Lions. Previously used as a midfielder, Amir stepped into the forward’s role and ended the campaign with seven goals across the SPL and Singapore Cup. It eventually led to the 21-year-old’s first national cap in a 3-1 win over the Maldives in June.

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