World's tallest striker removed from V.League roster

Nam Dinh Steel Blue has unexpectedly excluded the 2.06m foreign striker from its phase two registration list for V.League 2025/2026, concluding the lackluster stint of the high-profile pre-season acquisition.

Nam Dinh Steel Blue has officially finalized its registration list for the next phase of V.League 2025/2026, with the most notable absentee being striker Kyle Hudlin. This decision puts an end to much speculation surrounding the English forward's future at the Nam Dinh club.

At the start of the season, Nam Dinh created a "sensation" in the transfer market by signing Kyle Hudlin, a 2.06m striker considered one of the tallest in professional football today. With his exceptional physique, Hudlin was expected to become a "lighthouse" in attack, enhancing Nam Dinh's strength in aerial duels and hold-up play.

However, reality did not unfold as expected. Since the season began, the 26-year-old forward has made only 10 appearances across all competitions—5 in V.League, 4 in AFC Champions League Two, and 1 in the ASEAN Club Championship. Notably, all these appearances were as a substitute. In the last 11 matches, Hudlin was not even named in the matchday squad.

At one point, his prolonged absence raised questions about his future at Thien Truong Stadium. Nevertheless, Hudlin has recently returned to training with the full squad. Shared images show the English striker training normally, and he is likely to remain with Nam Dinh at least until the end of the 2025/2026 season.

Nevertheless, in the foreign player list registered for the remainder of V.League, the coaching staff has placed faith in names like Chadrac Akolo, Romulo, Arnaud Lusamba, Brenner, Percy Tau, Caio Cesar, and Lucas Alves. Omitting Kyle Hudlin means he will be ineligible to play in the domestic league during the decisive phase of the season.

Hudlin can only make a comeback when the ASEAN Club Championship 2025/2026 resumes in May, where Nam Dinh will face Selangor on May 6th. With the V.League title race entering a tense phase, the decision to drop Hudlin indicates the Nam Dinh club prioritizes effectiveness and tactical fit over the initial attention-grabbing physical attributes.