Vietnamese-French star unexpectedly reports on naturalization in Vietnam

Kevin Phạm Ba refuted claims that he has finalized his Vietnamese citizenship application, reiterating that many intricate steps remain in the process.

The defender's news Overseas Vietnamese Kevin Phạm Ba had completed his paperwork for Vietnamese citizenship has quickly attracted fans' attention in recent days. However, the player currently playing for Nam Định directly denied this information, while affirming that he has not received any notice from the club regarding the naturalization process.

Sharing with the media, Kevin Phạm Ba stated that all information about him having completed the paperwork is inaccurate. The 1994-born defender emphasized that the Vietnamese citizenship procedure is not simple and requires going through many steps according to legal regulations. Therefore, he does not want to create premature expectations when things have not yet made concrete progress.

Previously, in 2025, coach Vũ Hồng Việt revealed that Nam Định had a plan to support Kevin Phạm Ba in completing the necessary procedures to apply for Vietnamese citizenship. However, at that time, the coaching staff of the "Southern" team also acknowledged that this process still had many procedures to handle and could not be completed in a short time.

Although the naturalization process remains open, Kevin Phạm Ba has never hidden his desire to wear the Vietnam national team jersey. The player of Vietnamese-French descent said he always has a special affection for his family's homeland. After more than a year living and playing in Vietnam, the 32-year-old defender has increasingly adapted well to the domestic football environment and is ready to contribute if given the opportunity to be called up to the national team.

Kevin Phạm Ba was born in France and grew up in the Sochaux academy before spending many years playing in the lower divisions of French football. With a solid professional foundation trained in Europe, he possesses a strong playing style, good tackling ability, and extensive playing experience. These are also factors that helped him quickly adapt when transitioning to the Vietnamese football environment.

Joining Vietnamese football at the beginning of 2025, Kevin Phạm Ba left a strong impression while playing for CAHN before moving to Nam Định on loan. His consistent performances in defense played a key role in helping the "Southern" team successfully defend their V.League championship. His convincing form also helped him extend his contract until 2027, making him one of the most promising overseas Vietnamese players for the future of the Vietnam national team.