PETALING JAYA: Endrick dos Santos (pic) is back in Ho Chi Minh City and this time it is for good.
The naturalised Brazilian midfielder, who was linked with a move to Kuala Lumpur earlier this month, opted instead to continue his career in Vietnam’s top flight.
The 30-year-old Santos said he has officially parted ways with the Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) to sign full-time with Ho Chi Minh City.
“I’m delighted with this opportunity and even happier that the club trust me,” said Santos, who represented the club on loan last season.
“Now with a permanent contract, I hope to perform even better than the last season and help the team with more goals and assists.”
The midfielder played 24 matches last year, contributing two goals and five assists.
“Under the new management, we aim to fight at the top of the table. I’ll give my best in every game to help make that happen.”
Last season, Ho Chi Minh City finished 10th in the 14-team league with 28 points. Now, they are striving to challenge heavyweights such as Nam Dinh, Hanoi, and Viettel.
Santos paid tribute to his time at JDT, crediting the club for shaping him into a more complete professional.
“Johor helped me grow a lot. When you train with great professionals and athletes, improvement comes naturally,” he said.
“I want to thank our boss (Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim) for the opportunity and caring for me. I wish him and JDT continued success.”
