Football Association of Singapore

Ahead of the 2025-2026 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we look at each of the eight clubs participating in the domestic top flight. Today, we turn our attention to Geylang International. 

Seasons: 30

Nickname: The Eagles 

Highest finish: 1st (1996, 2001) 

2024/25 finish: 3rd

Chairman: Thomas Gay

Head coach: Noor Ali 

Captain: Joshua Pereira 

Key signings: Riku Fukashiro (Japan), Shuhei Hoshino (Japan), Nikola Ignjatovic (Serbia), Shahdan Sulaiman  

Social media platforms: Instagram | Facebook 

Geylang International are known for their flair and energy under Head Coach Noor Ali, and have built a reputation as one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the league in recent years. 

The 2024/25 season of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) was a prime example of that. Geylang netted a league-high 97 goals en route to a third-place finish – producing standout results including a 3-2 comeback win against eventual champions, Lion City Sailors, and a 6-0 demolition of Albirex Niigata. 

It is perhaps on the other end of the pitch that Noor Ali will push for more improvement. Geylang conceded 64 goals across the season, just five shy of the combined total of BG Tampines Rovers and the Sailors. 

To address that weakness, the Eagles have recruited shrewdly ahead of the new season. Centre-backs, South Korean Ko Jae-hyun, and Serbian Nikola Ignjatovic, have been signed to fill the void left by the departure of stalwart Rio Sakuma. They will be complemented by the additions of former Singapore internationals, and vastly experienced fullbacks, Nazrul Nazari and Tajeli Salamat. 

Concerns have been raised over the Eagles losing 44-goal striker Tomoyuki Doi, but Geylang have acted swiftly to revamp their attacking options. Shuhei Hoshino and Riku Fukashiro are two locally proven additions that need no introduction. Noor Ali can also now call upon the likes of Shodai Yokoyama, Shahdan Sulaiman, and Kaisei Ogawa to add more guile and steel in midfield. 

Despite the entry of a slew of new faces, retaining star men Vincent Bezecourt and Ryoya Taniguchi could arguably be Geylang’s biggest feat this transfer window. 

With a squad of experienced heads and promising young talent, Geylang look set to continue punching above their weight this season. If the Eagles strike the right balance between attack and defence, they stand a strong chance of making a serious impact this season.

Their first league assignment is a stern one, with BG Tampines Rovers awaiting them in the season’s first Eastern derby on 24 August. 

Squad (at time of publication)

Goalkeepers: Rudy Khairullah, Zainol Gulam, Aniq Matin, Naufal Affandi, Azakhir Azali

Defenders: Nikola Ignjatovic, Tajeli Salamat, Ko Jae-hyun, Shakir Hamzah, Nazrul Nazari, Danial Scott Crichton, Joshua Pereira, Ahmad Munthaha, Nizwan Izzairie, Shaquille Danish, S C Denilson, Irfan Rifqi, Sho Gamoh

Midfielders: Vincent Bezecourt, Kaisei Ogawa, Raiyan Noor, Shodai Yokoyama, Gareth Low, Riku Fukashiro, Shahdan Sulaiman, Raiyan Noor, Hud Ismail, Prince Rio, Sachin Balamurali, Ikhsan Sharil, Syafi Suhaimi

Forwards: Ethan Pinto, Shuhei Hoshino, Ryoya Taniguchi, Irfan Iskandar, Adam Irfan, Raoul Akbar