The Lion City Sailors are delighted to announce the return of fan favourite Song Uiyoung on an initial two-year deal, as the club intensifies their efforts to put together a title-winning side for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.
The Sailors’ third signing of the off-season after Toni Datković and Bart Ramselaar, Song rejoins the club following stints in Thailand and Indonesia with Nongbua Pitchaya and Persebaya Surabaya respectively. The 30-year-old attacker will bolster a squad that aims to not only reclaim top honours domestically in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), but also qualify for the knockout stages of the newly-formed Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2 (ACL2).
Having played the majority of his career in Singapore, South-Korean born Song has established himself as a firm favourite among the country’s football fans, due to his superb technical abilities and unwavering commitment on the pitch.
Song played an integral role in the Sailors’ initial rise between 2020 to 2022, as he carved out a reputation for scoring in critical matches. Some of his most notable goals include the opener in a 4-1 win over Balestier Khalsa that secured the club’s first-ever SPL title in 2021, as well as the strike that inspired the Sailors to a historic 3-0 win over Daegu FC in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) – the first time a Singaporean club had beaten a K-League outfit.
His record of 32 goals in 58 appearances puts him second in the Sailors’ all-time scoring charts behind Maxime Lestienne (42).
“Song’s a great asset to have in any team. He’s versatile across the attacking third, he can bring others into play and score goals as well, so I’m definitely delighted to have someone of his calibre in the team,” said Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković. “He’s familiar with the club’s setup and will need no time to bed into this team.”
Sailors Sporting Director Badri Ghent added, “Song’s pedigree is there for all to see, so when the opportunity to bring him back presented itself, we knew we had to make a move. Apart from his on-field attributes, his professionalism and dedication off it will make him a great example to the younger players who are embedded in our first team this season.”
Sealing a move back to familiar surroundings, an older and much wiser Song – who has scored four goals in 22 appearances for the Lions after obtaining Singaporean citizenship in August 2021 – is raring to go, as he looks to bring further success to the Sailors in his second spell with the club.
“I’ve learnt so much from playing in Thailand and Indonesia, and I want to make use of this experience to help the team. Everyone knows how much I love the club – I’ve mentioned before that I want to come back and play for the Sailors fans again, so here I am,” he declared.
“There are many familiar faces still around, and also some exciting additions to the team. This club is going in the right direction, and I’m going to give my all to help achieve our vision of becoming one of the best clubs in the region.”
Song is currently undergoing rehabilitation with the Sailors for a minor injury sustained earlier in January, in view of getting him ready for Singapore’s upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Round 2 qualifiers.
