Different Tack but Same Goals for Sailors

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

Lion City Sailors have shifted their recruitment strategy for the 2026-27 Singapore Premier League season, focusing on building squad depth with 11 new signings, including seven foreign players, rather than pursuing marquee names. This approach aims to strengthen their bid to defend the SPL title and compete across multiple tournaments despite recent coaching changes and increased competition from clubs like FC Jurong and Tampines Rovers.

Since the Lion City Sailors’ transition to Singapore’s first fully privatised professional football club in 2020, the team has consistently attracted high-profile foreign talent. Past seasons saw marquee signings such as Belgian winger Maxime Lestienne, former J1 League top scorer Anderson Lopes, South Korean forward Kim Shin-wook, and Brazilian playmaker Diego Lopes, who was acquired for a league record £1.8 million ($2.6 million). However, ahead of the 2026-27 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, which began on September 11, the Sailors appear to have altered their recruitment approach by prioritizing squad depth over headline signings.

The Sailors, set to face Hougang United at Jalan Besar Stadium on September 12, have added 11 new players, including local talents such as forward Ilhan Fandi and national team members Ryhan Stewart, Farhan Zulkifli, and Glenn Kwok. Their foreign contingent now comprises seven players—Brazilian defender Hugo Gomes, Georgian full-back Jorge Karseladze, Guadeloupean international forward Matthias Phaeton, Croatian striker Antonio Mance, French midfielder Giovanni Haqer, former Liverpool academy forward Bobby Adekanye, and Brazilian goalkeeper Victor Aznar. This brings the total number of imports in the first team to 14, double the maximum allowed on the pitch during an SPL match.

Though the club declined interview requests with director of football Luka Lalic, who oversees transfers, captain Hariss Harun expressed optimism about the squad’s balance. Speaking ahead of the season, the 35-year-old said the club’s activity in the transfer market demonstrated clear intent. He stressed the importance of integrating the various elements to address on-field challenges, noting the team’s ambition to defend their SPL title and compete across four competitions after a season where they won the Singapore Cup for the third consecutive year but exited early in the ASEAN Club Championship and Asian Champions League Two.

The Sailors faced early disruption when Spanish coach Jesus Casas was dismissed days before their 2-0 victory over Tampines Rovers in the Community Shield on September 6. English coach Mark Jackson has been appointed as Casas’ replacement but will only take charge once his employment visa is approved, leaving interim coach Varo Moreno in charge for the time being.

Meanwhile, FC Jurong, last season’s third-place finisher, has emerged as a significant domestic challenger. The club bolstered its ranks with Japanese icon Keisuke Honda, a veteran with 98 caps and 37 goals for Japan, including goals in three World Cups, who joined as the league’s marquee signing. Jurong also strengthened its lineup with experienced players Mizuki Ando, a prolific scorer in Japan’s second division, and J1 League midfielder Kodai Dobhi. Former assistant and fitness coach Jawinder Singh was promoted to head coach ahead of the new season and expressed confidence that the experienced additions would enhance the club’s competitiveness as they target the league title.

Tampines Rovers, last year’s runners-up, began their campaign against Balestier Khalsa on September 11 at Our Tampines Hub. The Stags underwent significant coaching changes over the past year with their sixth appointment in 13 months, bringing in former Singapore skipper and Tampines captain Nazir Azmi as head coach. Despite managerial instability, Tampines maintained continuity within the squad, retaining SPL Player of the Year Hide Higashikawa, veteran midfielders Yuki Kobayashi and Kohya Kazuma, defenders Dylan Fox and Takeshi Yoshimoto, and midfielder Seigu Sumi. Tampines also welcomed foreign talent including 19-year-old midfielder Yuma Kimura and 18-year-old forward Kenshin Yamazaki, both on loan from Japanese clubs, alongside midfielder Shodai Yokoyama and goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad.

While Tampines’ lack of a marquee foreign signing and a lackluster Community Shield performance have raised questions about their title aspirations, Nazir Azmi remains confident. Emphasizing the team’s cohesion, he stated that familiarity among players would be an asset as they aim to compete with the league’s top contenders.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.