(Hong Kong, 11 July 2026) Hong Kong Premier League Champions Kitchee will return to training next Monday (13 July). Under the new season slogan “Made for More”, the club is determined not to rest on its current success, but to create more for the team, the fans and Hong Kong football – more unforgettable memories, more historic moments for Kitchee and the local game, and more development opportunities for quality local players and the next generation of young talent. The team will strive for even better results in domestic competitions, build a bigger competitive platform, and continue to challenge for higher levels.
As League Champions, Kitchee will return to continental action in the 2026/27 season, representing Hong Kong in the AFC Champions League Two. The draw will take place on 18 August, with group stage matches running from September to December. The Club is determined to return to the knockout stages of Asian competition for the first time since its historic run in the 2022 AFC Champions League. Domestically, Kitchee will look to defend its Hong Kong Premier League title while aiming for silverware in other domestic competitions.
The reigning HKPL champions have maintained core stability in the squad, but have secured the signings of Hong Kong players Everton and Dudu, as well as Brazilian defender Marcos Santos, who is already well-acquainted with the local football landscape. 35-year-old attacker Everton Camargo, originally from Brazil, arrived in Hong Kong in 2015 to join Wong Tai Sin. He subsequently played for BC Glory Sky, Yuen Long, Eastern, and most recently, Lee Man. Over his 11 seasons in Hong Kong, he has made 251 appearances across all competitions, scoring 142 goals, and has been named to the Hong Kong Top Footballer Awards Best XI five times.
Dudu primarily plays as a center-back but has also featured as a defensive midfielder in the past. His extensive experience in Hong Kong includes stints in Tai Po, R&F, Eastern, KC Southern and Lee Man. Meanwhile, the towering Marcos Santos is also a center-back who
is comfortable using his left foot, having originally joined Tai Po in 2023.
In addition, Tuscany Shek and Yu Ching Wai will rejoin the squad after spending last season out on loan in Spain. Kitchee’s squad-building work has entered its final stage, and the club has identified a foreign striker target who is expected to arrive in Hong Kong in the coming days for fitness tests. Further details will be announced once the deal is confirmed.
Regarding the coaching staff, Head Coach Iñigo Calderón, who was named Coach of the Year at the Hong Kong Top Footballer Awards last season, will continue to lead the team alongside Assistant Coach Fernando Recio, and Goalkeeping Coach Guo Jianqiao. They are joined by Yeung Ching Kwong as Assistant Coach and Seb Buddle as Technical Analyst.
Yeung Ching Kwong holds an AFC Pro License and had a brief stint with Kitchee during his playing career. After retiring, he served as head coach for South China, Eastern, Hong Kong Pegasus, R&F and KC Southern. In the 2022/23 season, he led the Kitchee U16 team to the Hong Kong Premier Youth League U16 Championship, and he returned to Kitchee last season as the U13 Head Coach. Seb Buddle joined the Kitchee Academy in 2010 and was promoted to the First Team in 2016, making a total of 37 appearances for Kitchee.
Kitchee will officially commence pre-season training next Monday (13 July) and will head to Thailand for an intensive training camp from July 27 to August 7. During this period, the Club will play three warm-up matches against Prime Bangkok FC (Thai League 3), Ratchaburi FC (3rd in 2025/26 Thai League 1), and Prachuap FC (6th in 2025/26 Thai League 1). Broadcast and live-streaming details will be announced at a later date.
Kitchee Head Coach Iñigo Calderón shared his outlook on the upcoming season: "Our squad hasn't changed much for the new season, which is pleasing as a coach because it means most of the players are familiar with how the team operates. Our three new signings all know the landscape of Hong Kong football well. In particular, Everton and Dudu both possess international experience, while Marcos Santos provides the exact profile of a left- footed center-back that we needed".
Calderón believes the new season will be more challenging than the last. "As the defending Champions, we will certainly be the target for every opponent, and we also have to
compete in Asian competition. However, what we need to do is treat every single match as the most important one".
While the first team departs for a training camp in Thailand, Kitchee will also send both boys’ and girls’ youth teams to compete at the Nike TOMA Shanghai tournament. Nike TOMA is a small-sided street football platform launched by Nike in recent years, using three-a-side and similar formats to give young players a freer environment to express their creativity and technical skills, and to connect with peers from around the world. The Men’s squad features Liang Kui Chung, Pang Hing Lun, Poon Wing Kei, and Lam Yat Sen; while the Women’s squad includes Yu Pui Yan, Lam Sze Yu, Esme Wilde, Lee Lok Yan, and Tang Tsz Wan.