After six seasons filled with a mix of joy, laughter, pain and tears, striker Sieng Chanthea has officially ended his time with Boeung Ket Football Club and made the difficult decision to join Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng.
The reigning champions of the Cambodian Premier League (CPL), Svay Rieng, announced Chanthea’s arrival on Monday. The Cambodian international has represented the national team since the U17 level and spent six seasons at Boeung Ket.
His departure was met with regret by everyone at his former club, as he has long been one of Cambodia’s standout attacking talents. However, it was his personal decision to move on and seek a new environment. It’s understood that Svay Rieng bought out his contract in a full transfer.
Speaking about his departure, Chanthea described the move as a very difficult decision and extended his sincere gratitude to club president Puth Thetita and her husband, as well as secretary-general Be Makara, the coaching staff and his teammates for their support, care and guidance over the past six seasons.
“I am incredibly proud to have lived and worked with all of you. Finally, I wish everyone good health, success in all your missions, and the best of luck. Long live Boeung Ket!” he said, in a social media post.
Now officially a member of Svay Rieng, Chanthea may find himself in a more competitive environment. The club is not only defending its CPL title but also preparing for the AFC Challenge League 2025/2026. They earned automatic qualification to the group stages after finishing as runners-up in the previous 2024-2025 edition.
The talented striker explained his motivation for the move.
“It was truly a tough decision, but I have clear goals to take on new challenges and showcase myself on the international stage,” he said.
Chanthea signed his first professional contract with Boeung Ket in 2020 after completing training and education at the Bati National Football Academy. That same year, Boeung Ket won the CPL for the fourth time. However, the following seasons saw a decline in the club’s performance. Despite that, in 2022, Chanthea helped the team finish runners-up in the Hun Sen Cup.
During his time at Boeung Ket, he also had a special opportunity to play abroad — on loan to Al Shahaniya in Qatar’s top league (Qatar Stars League) during the 2023–2024 season. The stint exposed him to high-level competition alongside top-tier players.
Upon his return for the 2024–2025 season, he helped Boeung Ket finish 4th in the league and 3rd in the Hun Sen Cup. Despite not winning any team silverware, Chanthea shone individually — winning the Golden Boot for most goals (6) in the Hun Sen Cup and being named among the Top 11 Players of the Season in the CPL.
These standout performances are believed to have been the leading motivation for Svay Rieng’s serious financial investment in bringing him in as their new No. 9. The club recently added Khmer-Japanese player Yudai Ogawa and Seut Baraing, formerly of Phnom Penh Crown, to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.
