News Singapore Premier League • May 10, 2021
Singapore captain Hariss Harun joins Lion City Sailors from Johor Darul Ta’zim
Hariss Harun’s last stint in Singapore was in the then S.LEAGUE with Home United in 2017
SINGAPORE, 10 MAY 2021 – Hariss Harun has returned to play in Singapore after sealing a move to the Lion City Sailors earlier today.
The 30-year-old midfield dynamo has mutually terminated his contract and called time on a seven-and-a-half-year stay with Malaysian juggernauts Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) to join the Sailors, whom he has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with for an “undisclosed fee”, according to a club statement. The team are currently second in the AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) after nine games.
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“I’m thrilled to return home,” Hariss said in the statement. “The SPL is where I started to build my career, and it’s wildly exciting to now be a part of the Lion City Sailors’ vision of building up a club that can act as a catalyst for the SPL and Singapore football.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with JDT, and it was an honour to have worn the armband for a team that enjoyed tremendous success on the pitch while also making amazing improvements off the field too. I’d like to express my gratitude to Tunku Ismail for his leadership and trust in me, and I’d also like to thank the JDT team, staff and the people of Johor for welcoming me as one of their own.
“I can’t wait to get started on my next chapter with the Sailors, and I look forward to years of Sailors’ on-field success and off the pitch progress.”
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Sailors CEO Chew Chun-Liang added: “Hariss is a model professional who has shown that he is a leader in the dressing room as well as on the pitch, and we’re looking forward to him contributing to all the various facets of the Lion City Sailors project. Hariss has all the qualities that will not only strengthen the Sailors, but make our fans proud of what we’re aiming to build at the club. We’re delighted to welcome Hariss back to Singapore.”
The youngest ever debutant in the then S.LEAGUE when he made his first professional appearance on 9 March 2007 for the Young Lions at the age of 16 years and 110 days, Hariss last played in the league when he joined Home United on loan from JDT in 2017.
By then, Hariss had already won three consecutive Malaysia Super League titles with JDT, whom he joined in 2014 after one title-winning season at the LionsXII. He captained JDT to three more league titles and became the first and only Singaporean to win the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in 2015. According to JDT, Hariss made 197 appearances, played 15,367 minutes, scored 12 goals and made five assists during his time there.
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Also the youngest ever player to debut for Singapore at 16 years and 217 days, Hariss has been capped 101 times and is only the 13th centurion in the Lions’ history. He has scored 10 goals at international level and was part of the side that lifted the 2021 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship title.
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Hariss is set to link up with his new side after the international break in June, where Singapore are due to play their three remaining qualifiers in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Preliminary Round 2 campaign.
