Nam Dinh FC rejects $3 million Saudi offer for player Nguyễn Xuân Son

In the summer of 2024, following Thép Xanh Nam Định's V. League championship, a Saudi Arabian club offered over $3 million (approximately 75 billion VND) to purchase player Rafaelson, now known as Nguyễn Xuân Son.

Nguyen Van Thien, Chairman of Xuan Thien Group and Nam Dinh FC, declined the offer to ensure the player remained with the club and completed his Vietnamese naturalization process. The rejected amount represented nearly 37.5% of the total minimum 200 billion VND sponsorship package committed by Xuan Thien Group for the period of 2022 to 2025.

Following the decision, Rafaelson obtained Vietnamese citizenship in September 2024. The player had previously become the first in V. League history to score over 30 goals in a single season, recording 31 goals during the 2023-2024 campaign.