Mid-tier teams undergo ambitious major overhauls

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

Hougang United, Geylang International, and Balestier Khalsa have all conducted major squad overhauls, signing dozens of new players and releasing many veterans ahead of the Singapore Premier League season. These shifts reflect a strategic emphasis on aligning recruitment with club philosophies and adapting to the increased foreign player quota, aiming to enhance competitiveness and build long-term team identity.

Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs Hougang United, Geylang International, and Balestier Khalsa, which finished sixth, fifth, and fourth last season respectively, have all undergone major squad overhauls ahead of the upcoming campaign. These mid-table teams have made extensive changes to their playing rosters in efforts to improve their competitiveness, signalling a shift in recruitment strategy within the league.

Hougang United have signed 16 new players while releasing 15 from their squad. Geylang International have added 12 players and let go of 18, and Balestier Khalsa have brought in 12 new faces after parting ways with 16 players. While such turnover is not uncommon in SPL clubs outside the top two, coaches of the three teams emphasized that this off-season’s recruitment has been more deliberate and strategic, focusing on player profiles that fit club philosophies rather than merely fulfilling foreign player quotas.

Geylang coach Noor Ali highlighted the importance of selecting the right foreigners alongside local talents. He noted that the league’s increase in the foreign player quota—from six to seven last season—has made these signings crucial to team performance. The Eagles have recruited several players from FC Jurong, including South Korean centre-back Cho Eun-soo, North Korean duo Kim Tae-uk and Yang Hyeon-ju, and Japanese midfielder Naoki Yoshioka. However, Geylang has also bid farewell to experienced players such as Nikola Ignjatovic, Vincent Bezecourt, and Shahdan Sulaiman.

Hougang United’s rebuild is headlined by Japanese goalkeeper Takahiro Koga, forward Oakley Cannonier from Liverpool’s academy, and right-back Zulqarnaen Suzliman. Coach Akbar Nawas, who reviewed over 100 player profiles during recruitment, stressed the importance of aligning new signings with the club’s style and long-term identity rather than short-term fixes. Akbar described player turnover as a routine aspect of Singapore football driven by financial considerations, contracts, and regulations, but cautioned against constant rebuilding as a sustainable strategy.

Balestier Khalsa have welcomed J2 League player Yushin Otake, Croatian Marin Kuzminski, and centre-back Bill Mamadou from Thailand’s second division. The Tigers have seen the departure of several established players, including captain Madhu Mohana, who has passed the leadership baton to Tajeli Salamat. Coach Marko Kraljevic remarked that while clubs need to be cautious about signings—particularly balancing cost and fit—the current shifts are a natural part of the game and influenced in part by the league’s foreign player rule changes.

As the SPL enters its new season, these mid-tier teams demonstrate the evolving dynamics of player recruitment and squad building, balancing financial realities with ambitions to establish stable football identities and improved performances on the pitch.

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.