With 44 goals in 29 games, Tomoyuki Doi hasn’t just lit up the Singapore Premier League (SPL), he’s set it on fire.
Now, with his contract expiring at the end of the 2024-25 season, the Geylang International star is officially the most wanted man in Southeast Asian football.
And maybe beyond, just based on some online chatter.
Brunei DPMM, set to dump the SPL for Malaysia, declared on their website that Doi is on their radar.
Across the Causeway, Malaysia Super League runners-up Selangor FC, led by Japanese head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi, are also said to be keen.
With ambitions to topple Johor Darul Takzim’s domestic dominance and make a deeper run in the Asian Champions League Two, Doi’s predatory instincts would be a major asset.
Doi isn’t denying the rumours, but he isn’t confirming anything either.
“I cannot say what will happen in the future, because we never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. What I can do is to focus and shape my skills as a striker every day,” said the 27-year-old to the Straits Times.
He is also said to have attended trials in Europe with a Danish side and an English club as well.
Earlier this year, Doi smashed a 23-year-old record with ease, surpassing Mirko Grabovac’s 38-goal season from 2001.
He’s also 16 goals ahead of his nearest rival in the Golden Boot race and has dragged Geylang into top-three territory for the first time since 2003.
If there’s an MVP this season, it’s him.
Geylang coach Noor Ali knows exactly what’s at stake.
“Definitely (tough to find a replacement).
“You have a striker scoring nearly 50 goals per season, and I think that’s something that is going to be very, very hard for us to fill.
“But let’s see, there are still three more games to go this season, maybe we can keep Doi for next season,” he said.
Doi, who joined Geylang in 2024, had vowed to become a “legend” in the SPL and he’s on track to do just that.
PHOTO: TOMOYUKI DOI