OFFICIAL: Another World Cup-level star arrives in the V-League

The Ho Chi Minh City Police Football Club has officially confirmed the recruitment of Jason Cummings, a forward who played in the 2022 World Cup and made a notable impact in the A-League, earning the nickname "The Joker".

On the evening of August 12, on the official fanpage, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Football Club confirmed that Jason Cummings has become the team's new recruit. The striker, born in 1995, holds dual Scottish and Australian citizenship, having played for both national teams before choosing to commit to the Socceroos.

The period that truly made Jason Cummings a standout name in the Asia-Pacific region was during his time with Central Coast Mariners. In the 2022/23 A-League season, the Australian striker scored 20 goals, finishing just behind Jamie Maclaren in the Golden Boot race. This achievement also helped Cummings set a club record for most goals in a single season for Central Coast Mariners.

The peak came in the 2023 A-League Grand Final. Against highly-favored Melbourne City, Central Coast Mariners pulled off an incredible 6-1 victory, with Cummings scoring a hat-trick.

That explosive performance earned him the title of best player in the final. After 18 months at Central Coast Mariners, Cummings ended his spell with 31 goals in 50 appearances, becoming one of the most prominent figures of the club during this successful period.

Not only possessing goal-scoring ability, Cummings also draws attention with his strong personality on the pitch. The 31-year-old striker is known by the nickname "The Joker," associated with the image and celebrations inspired by this famous character.

Besides his mark in the A-League, Cummings' resume becomes even more special as he participated in the 2022 World Cup with the Australian national team. The striker born in 1995 was brought on as a substitute in the opening match against France. Earlier, he also scored on his debut for the Socceroos with a successful penalty kick against New Zealand.

Before rising to fame in Australia, Cummings spent many years playing in England and Scotland. He developed at Hibernian, where he consistently topped the goal-scoring charts for the Scottish club before moving to Nottingham Forest. Cummings later also played for Rangers, Peterborough United, Luton Town, Shrewsbury Town, and Dundee.

After winning the A-League championship with Central Coast Mariners, the striker moved to Mohun Bagan in India. The traditional Indian Super League club signed Cummings to a three-year contract, reflecting the status of the Australian striker after his explosive period at home.

With a journey spanning from English and Scottish football to the A-League, India, and even the World Cup stage, Cummings possesses a resume rarely seen for a foreign player arriving in the V-League.

The numbers also show the weight of this contract. Having scored 20 goals in a single A-League season, netted a hat-trick in the grand final, and worn the Australia shirt at the World Cup, "The Joker" promises to become one of the most notable attacking threats for Ho Chi Minh City Police in the new season.