Huynh Kesley Alves has joined Dong Nai FC for the new season.

The naturalised player failed to get his contract extended with V-League champions Becamex Binh Duong after a year of poor performance, during which he scored only eight goals.

"His physique was not strong enough to play for the whole 90 minutes. He would be okay for a middle-level team, while we are aiming higher which will require better players," said Cao Van Chong of Binh Duong, when asked why they had ended the relationship with Kesley early this week.

The 33-year-old immediately found a place in Dong Nai, and has signed a one-year contract. He is the first newcomer in Dong Nai under coach Tran Binh Su.

Born a Brazilian, Kesley came to Viet Nam in 2005. In his first season here, he scored 21 goals for Binh Duong and grabbed the best-scorer title.

He was granted Vietnamese citizenship in 2009 when he was called to the national team.

Kesley has also played for Hoang Anh Gia Lai (2006) and Sai Gon Xuan Thanh (2011-12). — VNS