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: 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, and midfielders Takumi Yokohata, Katsuyuki Ishibashi and Ren Nishimura. Goalkeeper Takahiro Koga also returns to the White Swans after his spell at FC Osaka. 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 midfielders Jared Gallagher and Danish Qayyum, and defender Delwinder Singh, 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: Amy Recha, Shingo Nakano, Syukri Bashir, Lee Dong Yeol, Liska Haaziq
