Football Association of Singapore

Ahead of the 2025/26 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we look at each of the eight clubs participating in the domestic top flight. In this edition, we turn our attention to six-time SPL champions, Albirex Niigata (S).

Seasons: 22 

Nickname: The White Swans 

Highest finish: 1st (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023)

2024/25 finish: 6th 

Chairman: Daisuke Korenaga

Head coach: Keiji Shigetomi 

Captain(s): Kim Taeuk, Jared Gallagher, Shingo Nakano

Key signings: Takahiro Koga (Japan), Takumi Yokohata (Japan), Lee Dong Yeol

(Korea)

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After a disappointing title defence in the 2024/25 campaign, which saw Albirex Niigata (S),  six-time league champions, finish in a lacklustre sixth place, the new season will be about redemption. 

It has been a choppy first season for the White Swans as a fully localised club. Only three clubs scored fewer than Albirex’s 55 goals, while they ranked 5th for the most goals conceded in the league with 71. 

Although their form improved slightly after Keiji Shigetomi’s appointment in July 2024 – with a 3-1 win over eventual champions, Lion City Sailors, one of the club’s few high points – five losses in their final eight matches consigned them to a bottom-half finish.

Determined to reclaim their throne, Albirex have retained Shigetomi for the 2025/26 season. Having previously won the league title in 2020, the 46-year-old will once again be backed by a fresh cast of talented young Japanese footballers. 

This includes the likes of centre-back Komei Iida, midfielders Takumi Yokohata and Ren Nishimura, as well as forward Katsuyuki Ishibashi. Winger Arya Igami and goalkeeper Takahiro Koga also return to the White Swans after spells at BG Tampines Rovers and FC Osaka respectively. Perhaps critically, Albirex have retained the services of 26-goal forward Shingo Nakano, who will continue to be the focal point of their attack. 

Adding to their ever-present Japanese contingent, the White Swans have also tapped into the Korean market for reinforcements. The club has secured centre-backs Cho Eunsu and Kim Taeuk, while South Korean Under-21 international forward Lee Dong Yeol provides an added attacking threat.

Albirex has also supplemented their local core with the likes of midfielder Jared Gallagher, defender Delwinder Singh, and forward Danish Qayyum as they look to turn around the club’s fortunes. 

With their league campaign kicking off against Balestier Khalsa on 23 August, Albirex will be eager to make a strong start. After a disappointing title defence last term, the White Swans will be intent on steadying the ship and re-establishing themselves as contenders. 

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Squad (at time of publication):

Goalkeepers: Hassan Sunny, Dylan Pereira, Takahiro Koga, Eizlan Haiqal, Danysh Basir

Defenders: Nozomi Ozawa, Kim Taeuk, Komei Iida, Daniel Martens, Cho Eunsu, Sim Jun Yen, Aneeq Fairus, Ahmad Martin, Arsyad Azrain, Sachin Kabilan, Khaalish Aaqil

Midfielders: Takumi Yokohata, Jared Gallagher, Ren Nishimura, Naoki Yoshioka, Syed Firdaus, Katsuyuki Ishibashi, Jaden Heng, Helmi Shahrol, Rauf Anaqi, Nicky Melvin, Delwinder Singh, Soshi Kadowaki, Danish Qayyum, Aqil Zafri, Dani Qalish, Haziq Kamarudin

Forwards: Katsuyuki Ishibashi, Arya Igami, Amy Recha, Haziq Kamarudin, Danish Qayyum, Shingo Nakano, Syukri Bashir, Lee Dong Yeol, Liska Haaziq