Summer review as league returns this week and Kitchee find out continental opponents

The Hong Kong Premier League is back, as Kitchee seek to defend their title and be competitive in the Asian Champions League 2. Here we'll summarise the ins and outs over the summer and what to look forward to, with Kitchee getting their season underway away at Rangers in Tsing Yi, 6.30pm on 22nd August.

Kitchee's first game in Thailand was against Prime Bangkok of the third tier. Kitchee were dominant, winning 4-0 thanks to first half goals for Everton and Cheng Chin-lung, and a brace for Koldo Obieta off the bench in the second half. This was the first game for Kitchee's four new signings, plus sixteen year old forward Sephrey Ma off the bench.

Kitchee then took on Ratchaburi of Thai League 1, who will compete in the Asian Champions League Elite this season, and reached the quarter finals of last season's ACL2. Kitchee conceded two goals in the first half to succumb to a 2-0 defeat, but were not overawed by a strong team.

Kitchee's final televised friendly saw them take on PT Prachuap, also of Thai League 1, who finished in the top half last season. After going behind, Adrian Revilla equalised before half time in a physical game that saw multiple bench-clearing arguments involving players and staff.

There were lots of positive signs, with Calderon being tactically flexible, often starting with a 3421 or 352 formation but also fielding a 433. The players were able to switch between the two in and out of possession, and the four new signings, two returning loanees and Sephrey Ma promoted from the academy all got regular minutes. 

In the Hong Kong Jockey Club Youth Summit, Kitchee's u18 side beat Manchester United's under 16s on penalties, with Ari Lam scoring early on to give Kitchee the lead. Despite conceding a late equaliser, Kitchee emerged victorious on penalties, with substitute goalkeeper Dylan Parisi Anzolin making two saves. In a monumental week for Hong Kong youth football, the Hong Kong under sixteen side defeated Manchester United on penalties too, with a number of Kitchee players in the squad.

New signings 

Marcos Santos 'Marcao'. The towering centre back stands at nearly two metres tall, and joins us after three years at Tai Po. He made over sixty appearances in green, scoring eight goals, and won the 24/25 HKPL, and the Senior Shield and FA Cup in 25/26, but unfortunately missed out on playing ACL2 football with Tai Po as he was sidelined for nine months with a serious knee injury. 

Everton. Not a lot that needs to be said, as he has played over two hundred and fifty games for five Hong Kong clubs, and scored nearly a hundred and fifty goals. At Lee Man he won the golden boot back in 22/23 (shared with Dejan and Mingazow), the HKPL in 24/25 and has won multiple cup competitions with Yuen Long, Eastern and Lee Man. Since making his Hong Kong debut after naturalising in 2023 he has contributed twelve goals and fifteen assists in twenty six games, and despite turning thirty five in May there is hopefully plenty left in the tank to take us to further glory, and compete in ACL2. Primarily a right winger, in preseason we also saw him deployed as a narrow right forward or a striker in a front two.

Dudu. Another naturalised Brazilian joins us from Lee Man. A two time league winner, Kitchee are his sixth HKPL club, playing nearly two hundred games in the city. An aerial threat from set pieces, he regularly chips in with goals wherever he has played, and brings another experienced player to our defensive line. Dudu has been a regular part of Hong Kong squads since becoming eligible in early 2024, scoring against Guam in the EAFF final. He once captained Neymar in the Santos academy.

Koldo Obieta. The Spanish striker joins us from Indonesian side Borneo FC Samarinda, where he scored nine in sixteen last season. The thirty two year old spent the bulk of his career in the Spanish leagues (with a short spell in Poland), before moving to Kerala Blasters in India in October 2025, and onto Borneo in January 2026. He will relieve some of the scoring pressure on Adrian, and give us another striking option for ACL2.

Departures 

Wang Zhenpeng. The veteran brought his legendary career to a close after nearly four hundred games, after joining the club in 2005. Kitchee's record appearance holder, this is unlikely to be broken anytime soon, as Cheng Chin-lung with just over a hundred and fifty games has the most appearances of the current squad. Won ten league titles and seventeen cups during his time at Kitchee.

Law Tsz-chun. The versatile academy graduate joined Kitchee aged eleven in 2008, and other than one season out on loan, he remained at Kitchee until this summer. He played a hundred and sixty six games (with five goals and sixteen assists), and was part of the leadership group, captaining regularly. He joins newly promoted Sha Tin. Sadly his final season was heavily disrupted by a broken collarbone sustained while playing for the U22s, and he last played in November. He won twelve trophies at Kitchee, including four league titles, and now joins newly promoted Sha Tin..

Matheus Dantas. The Brazilian centre back played forty six games in two seasons and helped us secure the league title last season. Added solidity in defence that had been lacking, and although his performances dropped off towards the end of 2025-26, he was still nominated for the team of the season. Did not miss a single game through injury.

Anson Wong Ho-chun. Joined in January from Qingdao Hainau. With only one start and a total of less than two hundred minutes, he scored three goals and assisted one, including scoring the goal which sealed our 2-0 win over Rangers and the league title. He moves to Southern District.

Martin Merquelanz. Joined in early February and left at the end of the season. Chipped in with two goals (including a stunning final day freekick) and an assist in his seven games. He returns to Spain with Real Union in the third tier.

Leandro Martinez. Left after a single season where his eleven goals and fourteen assists fired Kitchee to league glory. He also returns to Spain, with Recreativo Huelva in the fourth tier.

Seb Buddle. Retired at the age of twenty seven to take up a role as match analyst at the club. The right-sided player made thirty seven appearances (scoring four times) and was part of four league winning squads.

Matthew Slattery. The young striker graduated from the academy in 2023 and made nineteen appearances, winning the league in his final season, albeit only playing once. A talisman for the U22s, he scored twenty four in thirty three for them, winning the FA Cup twice. He moves on to Kowloon City, alongside Chen Ngo-hin who we have loaned there for the season.

Tun Thurain. Left after six months and only playing ninety two minutes over two games. Featured much more prominently for the U22s, scoring four in nine games, including the second goal in the victorious FA Cup final. He joins Yadanarbon FC in the top tier in his homeland of Myanmar. 

This season

Kitchee found out their opponents for the Asian Champions League 2 on Tuesday. We will take on Gangwon FC of Korea, Kuching City of Malaysia and Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia. We'll do a more in depth preview and analysis of our opponents once the schedule of games is out.

Kitchee have only conceded one goal in their last six games against Rangers, and have not lost to Saturday's opponents since the Sapling Cup final in 2024. See you at Tsing Yi!

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Written by Adam O'Domhnaill