Samson Olaleye: Vietnam-Nigeria striker joins Becamex HCMC on free transfer

Vietnamese-Nigerian centre-forward Samson Olaleye has joined Becamex HCMC from PVF-CAND on a free transfer.

The 37-year-old, born in Kaduna, switches clubs in Vietnam after spending the 2025-26 season with PVF-CAND. He becomes the latest move in a career that has included spells with several Vietnamese sides, as well as clubs in Thailand, Portugal and Spain.

Olaleye has scored 69 goals in 178 V.League 1 appearances, with 15 assists. He has also netted three times in 12 AFC Cup matches and twice in six Vietnam Cup games.

His record in Vietnam includes two league titles, won with Hanoi T&T FC in 2015-16 and Ha Noi FC in 2018-19. He also lifted the Vietnamese Super Cup with Ha Noi FC in 2018-19 and was named the Vietnamese league’s top scorer in successive seasons, scoring 14 goals in 2012-13 and 23 in 2013-14.

Olaleye was named the V.League’s best foreign player in 2010 during his time with Dong Thap FC. He later won the Thai league title with Buriram United in the 2017-18 season before returning to Ha Noi FC.

His more recent career has taken him from Ha Noi FC to Thanh Hoa FC, HCMC FC, Quang Nam FC and PVF-CAND. He joined PVF-CAND from Quang Nam FC in August 2025, also on a free transfer.

Olaleye has played as a right-footed centre-forward throughout his career and brings a substantial record in Vietnamese domestic football to Becamex HCMC. His overall statistics also include two goals in the Vietnamese Super Cup, scored from a single appearance.

The move to Becamex HCMC was completed on 1 August 2026.