| Organising body | Football Association of Singapore (FAS) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 14 April 1996; 29 years ago (1996-04-14) (as S. League) 31 March 2018; 7 years ago (2018-03-31) (as Singapore Premier League) |
| Country | Singapore (8 teams) |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 8 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Singapore Cup Singapore Community Shield |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two ASEAN Club Championship |
| Current champions | Lion City Sailors (4th title) |
| Most championships | Warriors FC (9 titles) |
| Most appearances | Daniel Bennett (518) |
| Top scorer | Aleksandar Đurić (385) |
| Broadcaster(s) | 1 Play Sports (live streaming) Mediacorp Singtel TV Starhub J Sports |
| Website | spl |
| Current:2025–26 Singapore Premier League | |
TheSingapore Premier League, commonly abbreviated as theSPL, officially known as theAIA Singapore Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a men's professionalfootball league sanctioned by theFootball Association of Singapore (FAS), which represents the sport's highest level in theSingapore football league system.
The competition was founded as the S. League on 14 April 1996, after the FAS announced its intention to promote and expand the growing local football community by having a top-level domestic league. As of 2025, the league comprises eight clubs, consisting of four rounds in which each team plays every other team once. Seasons run from late August to May, with teams playing 28 matches each, totalling 112 matches in the season.
Successful SPL clubs qualify for Asian continental club competitions, including theAFC Champions League Two. The SPL currently does not practicepromotion and relegation. Since the league's inception in 1996, 7 clubs have been crowned champions.Warriors[a] have been the most successful club with 9 titles, followed byAlbirex Niigata (S) (6),Tampines Rovers (5),Lion City Sailors (4),[b]Geylang International (2),DPMM (2) andÉtoile (1). The current champions are Lion City Sailors, having won their fourth league title in the2024–25 season.
Singapore had been represented in theMalaysia Cup through theSingapore Lions since 1921. The Lions were one of the most successful teams in the competition, having won it 24 times from 1921 to 1994. Following a dispute over gate receipts between theFAS andFAM[1] after winning the league and cup double in 1994, the Lions withdrew from the Malaysian competitions.
Subsequently, FAS decided to build a professional league system. However, as it was estimated to take about a year to put in place the structure of a professional league, the Singapore Lions were given match practice in what was then the top level of domestic football, the semi-professionalFAS Premier League. This team won the last FAS Premier League title, finishing the season unbeaten.
The S.League was founded in1996. The FAS invited applications for clubs to compete in the newly formed league. Eight successful applications were made. Two clubs from the Premier League – powerhouseGeylang International (renamed Geylang United; 6 consecutive Premier League titles) and Balestier United (renamedBalestier Central) – joined six from the amateur National Football League –Police SA,Singapore Armed Forces (SAFFC),Tampines Rovers,Tiong Bahru United, Wellington (renamedWoodlands Wellington) andSembawang Rangers (merger of Gibraltar Crescent and Sembawang SC) – for the inaugural edition of the S.League. The season was split into two series. Tiger Beer Series winners Geylang United defeated Pioneer Series winners SAFFC 2–1 in the end-of-season championship playoff to be crowned the 1st S.League champions.[2] The 30,000 crowd at the playoff remains the record attendance in the S.League.
Police FC renamed themselves as Home United for the1997 season to reflect their representation of not only theSingapore Police Force but also other HomeTeam Departments of the SingaporeMinistry of Home Affairs such as theSCDF and theICA. NFL side Jurong Town, who renamed themselvesJurong FC, joined the competition taking the number of participating clubs to 9. The league switched from its previous format to a round-robin competition. Singapore Armed Forces won their first title.
Gombak United andMarine Castle United joined the S.League in1998, further taking the number of clubs to 11. Tiong Bahru United renamed themselves to Tanjong Pagar United at the start of the season. Singapore Armed Forces won their second consecutive title.
Clementi Khalsa joined the S.League in1999 as a representative of the Sikh community in Singapore. The league took on 12 teams for the next five years. Home United won their first title.
During the 2000s, the FAS decided to invite foreign clubs to the league to increase league competitiveness.Sinchi, a side composed of Chinese players became the first foreign club to participate in2003. Chinese nationalsShi Jiayi andQiu Li went on to become naturalisedSingapore players.
Sporting Afrique, a club made up of African players, andSuper Reds, a side comprising South Korean players, became the third and fourth foreign clubs to join the competition in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Sporting Afrique was refused entry into the2007 S.League due to off-field controversies and poor performance. In 2010, Super Reds were denied a place after three seasons following attempts to convert into a team of local players.
Chinese Super League clubsLiaoning (2007),Dalian Shide (2008) andBeijing Guoan (2010) entered their feeder clubs in the S.League. All three clubs each lasted one season before being pulled out of the league due to poor performances and disciplinary issues. Bruneian clubDPMM joined the S.League in2009 before being pulled from the league as a result of aFIFA ban. They re-entered the league in2012. They were the first club to base themselves outside of Singapore. In2010, French clubÉtoile became the first foreign side to win the S.League. Etoile pulled out of the S.League before the 2012 season to focus on grassroots football and youth development.
In 2012, Malaysia national youth sidesHarimau Muda A andHarimau Muda B joined the S.League following an agreement between theFootball Association of Singapore and theFootball Association of Malaysia (FAM) to send their representative sides into their respective domestic competitions. Singaporean sideLionsXII returned to the Malaysian competitions in 2012. Echoing the formerSingapore FA, the LionsXII quickly became a successful force in the Malaysian league system during its short stint, winning the league title in2013 as well as the FA Cup in2015.
However, on 25 November 2015, the FAM decided not to extend their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the FAS. This automatically disqualified LionsXII from further entering any football tournament in Malaysia. Similarly, Malaysia's squad Harimau Muda did not participate in the Singapore League from then onwards.[3]
J.League clubAlbirex Niigata entered their feeder clubAlbirex Niigata Singapore in the2004 S.League. The club became the most established foreign side in the S.League, drawing on the support of the Japanese expatriate community and some local fans. As of 2023, they are the foreign side with the longest involvement in Singaporean football.
The league took on several changes for the2015 season to increase its competitiveness.[4][5] The number of clubs was reduced from 12 to 10, with the withdrawal ofTanjong Pagar United due to financial problems, and the merger ofWoodlands Wellington andHougang United.[4][6] The league returned to a three-round format used from 2001 to 2011.[4] The foreign player quota remained at five per club, but incentives were given to those who signed an under-21 player.[6] The passing time for the mandatory 2.4 km fitness test was lowered from 10 mins to 9 mins 45 s.[4] A new rule on age restrictions – a maximum of five players aged 30 and above and a minimum of three under-25 players for clubs with a 22-man squad, a maximum of four players aged 30 and above and a minimum of two under-25 players for clubs with a 20-man squad – was later reversed.[6][7]
The league was rebranded as theSingapore Premier League on 21 March 2018. Further revamps were also made to see a greater emphasis on local youth players in a bid to strengthen the national side; this, in effect, has resulted in several senior as well as local and foreign stars being purchased by overseas clubs.[8]
Singapore Premier League clubs can sign a maximum of four foreign players in the2020 season, up from three as compared to the2019 season.[9] In the2022 season, eight teams played a four-round format for the first time in its entire league history.[10]
In response to changes inAsian Football Confederation Club Competitions and potentialFIFA International Calendar amendments,FAS announced that the league calendar will undergo a two-year transition process.[11] The2024-25 season was played from 10 May 2024 to 25 May 2025,[12] the first time that a season was scheduled over a two-year period.
The2025-26 season would then align with AFC Club Competitions, starting in August 2025 and concluding in May 2026, setting the timeline for subsequent seasons.[11] This move is important in terms of aligning transfer windows, as well as allowing for the easier calendaring of national or regional club tournaments.[11]
There is no relegation or promotion system in the league. Clubs enter the Singapore Premier League by invitation of theFootball Association of Singapore.
| Season | No. of clubs | Matches per club | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 8 | 14 × 2 series | One title playoff match between series winners at the end of the season. |
| 1997 | 9 | 16 | |
| 1998 | 11 | 20 | |
| 1999–2000 | 12 | 22 | |
| 2001–2003 | 12 | 33 | In 2003, matches proceeded to a penalty shootout in the event of a draw. Shootout winners were awarded an extra point on top of the draw. |
| 2004–2005 | 10 | 27 | |
| 2006 | 11 | 30 | |
| 2007–2011 | 12 | 33 | DPMM's results were expunged towards the end of 2009 following a FIFA ban, officially leaving 11 teams playing 30 matches each. |
| 2012 | 13 | 24 | |
| 2013–2014 | 12 | 27 | The league was split into two-halves after matchday 22. Teams in each half play every other team from their half once, for an additional five matches. Results in the 2nd phase were added to that in the 1st phase for overall standings. |
| 2015 | 10 | 27 | The league returned to a three-round format. |
| 2016–2017 | 9 | 24 | |
| 2018–2019 | 9 | 24 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 14 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 21 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 28 | The league will play a four-round format for the first time in its entire history. |
| 2023 | 9 | 24 | The league returned to a three-round format. |
| 2024–25 | 9 | 32 | The league returned a four-round format. |
| 2025–26 | 8 | 21 | The league returned to a three-round format. |
A total of 25 clubs have played in the league from its inception in 1996 up to and including the2024–25 season. The following 8 clubs are competing in the league during the2025–26 season.
| Club | Founded | Based | Stadium | Capacity | Former names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 2004 | Jurong East | Jurong East Stadium | 2,700 | |
| Balestier Khalsa | 1898 | Toa Payoh | Toa Payoh Stadium | 3,800 | formed from merger of Balestier Central and Clementi Khalsa in 2002. |
| Geylang International | 1973 | Bedok | Bedok Stadium | 3,800 | known as Geylang United from 1996 to 2012. |
| Lion City Sailors | 1946 | Bishan | Bishan Stadium | 6,254 | known as Police FC in debut season; formerly as Home United from 1997 to 2020. |
| Hougang United | 1998 | Hougang | Hougang Stadium | 6,000 | known as Marine Castle United (1998–2001), Sengkang Marine (2002–2003), Sengkang Punggol (2006–2010; merger with Paya Lebar Punggol). |
| Tampines Rovers | 1945 | Tampines | Our Tampines Hub | 5,000 | |
| Tanjong Pagar United | 1974 | Queenstown | Queenstown Stadium | 3,800 | known as Tiong Bahru Constituency Sports Club (1974–1996), Tiong Bahru United (1996–1998). |
| Young Lions | 2002 | Kallang | Jalan Besar Stadium | 6,000 | Sponsorship name; Courts Young Lions (2011–2015), Garena Young Lions (2016–2017). |
Balestier Khalsa, Geylang International and Tampines Rovers are clubs that have played in all 28 seasons of the Singapore Premier League as of 2024.
| Team | Founded | Based | Stadium | Years active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gombak United | 1960 | Bukit Gombak | Bukit Gombak Stadium | 1998–2002 2006–2012 |
| Woodlands Wellington | 1988 | Woodlands | Woodlands Stadium | 1996–2014 |
| Sembawang Rangers | 1996 | Sembawang | Yishun Stadium | 1996–2003 |
| Jurong Town | 1975 | Jurong | Jurong Stadium | 1997–2003 |
| Warriors | 1979 | Choa Chu Kang | Choa Chu Kang Stadium | 1996–2019 |
| Home United | 1998 | Jalan Besar | Jalan Besar Stadium | 1998-2019 |
Years indicates seasons active in the league.
| Team | Years | Based | Stadium | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinchi | 2003–2005 | Taman Jurong | Jurong Stadium | Chinese club |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 2004–present | Jurong East | Jurong East Stadium | Satellite club ofAlbirex Niigata of Japan |
| Sporting Afrique | 2006 | Yishun | Yishun Stadium | African expatriate team |
| Liaoning Guangyuan | 2007 | Queenstown | Queenstown Stadium | Satellite club ofLiaoning of China |
| Yishun Super Reds | 2007–2009 | Yishun | Yishun Stadium | Korean expatriate team |
| Dalian Shide Siwu | 2008 | Queenstown | Queenstown Stadium | Satellite club ofDalian Shide of China |
| DPMM | 2008–2020, 2023–2025 | Bandar Seri Begawan,Brunei | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium | Club based inBrunei |
| Beijing Guoan Talent | 2010 | Yishun | Yishun Stadium | Satellite club ofBeijing Guoan of China |
| Étoile | 2010–2011 | Queenstown | Queenstown Stadium | French expatriate team |
| Harimau Muda A | 2012 | Yishun | Yishun Stadium | Malaysian youth national teams playing as clubs |
| Harimau Muda B | 2013–2015 | –Johor Bahru –Malacca (2015) | –Pasir Gudang Stadium |
Years indicates seasons active in the leagueDomestic based are foreign clubs which are based in Singapore.
After an inaugural season with no sponsorship, the league was sponsored byGreat Eastern from 2009 until 2018 whenYeo's andHyundai became the joint sponsors, during which time it was known as theGreat Eastern-Yeo's S.League and theGreat Eastern-Hyundai S.League. In 2019, a Hong Kong-based multinational insurance and finance corporation sponsored the league as their main sponsor. For the 2018 season, the league was rebranded as the Singapore Premier League.
| Period | Sponsor | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–2008 | No sponsor | S.League |
| 2009–2016 | Great Eastern-Yeo's | Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League |
| 2017–2018 | Great Eastern-Hyundai | – Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League – Great Eastern-Hyundai Singapore Premier League |
| 2019–present | AIA | AIA Singapore Premier League |
The league's winners qualify for theAFC Champions League 2, the same as theSingapore Cup winners. Foreign clubs are ineligible to represent the Football Association of Singapore inAFC continental competitions. The qualification spot is given to the next best-placed local club in the league if a foreign club wins any of the two competitions.
The league has seen seven clubs win the title since its inception.Warriors (formerly Singapore Armed Forces FC) hold the most titles at nine. In 2010,Étoile became the first foreign side to win the competition.[13]
| Invited clubs |
* The inaugural season of the S.League was split into two series. The winners of each series completed in a championship playoff in whichGeylang United defeatedSingapore Armed Forces to claim the first S.League title.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors | 9 | 4 | 1997,1998,2000,2002,2006,2007,2008,2009,2014 |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 6 | 1 | 2016,2017,2018,2020,2022,2023 |
| Tampines Rovers | 5 | 8 | 2004,2005,2011,2012,2013 |
| Lion City Sailors | 4 | 8 | 1999,2003,2021,2024–25 |
| DPMM | 2 | 2 | 2015,2019 |
| Geylang International | 2 | 1 | 1996,2001 |
| Étoile | 1 | 0 | 2010 |
| Tanjong Pagar United | 0 | 3 | |
| Super Reds | 0 | 1 |
| Invited clubs |
On 1 July 2025, FAS introduces enhancements to the Singapore Premier League with increase in prize money award where normally, the prize money is only given to the top four sides but from the 2025–26 season onwards teams that finished in fifth and sixth place will get $50,000 and $30,000 respectively as a performance incentive for mid-table finishes.[16]
As of the 2025–26 season. Prize money are inSingapore dollar.
The all-time Singapore Premier League table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the league since its inception in 1996. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the2023 season. Teams inbold are part of the2024–25 season.
| Pos | Club | No. of Seasons | Pld | W (PK)[c] | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampines Rovers | 28 | 720 | 389 (3) | 145 | 183 | 1,425 | 909 | +516 | 1,318 |
| 2 | Warriorsa | 24 | 654 | 371 (2) | 121 | 160 | 1,407 | 865 | +542 | 1,238 |
| 3 | Home United | 24 | 654 | 357 (2) | 123 | 172 | 1,309 | 853 | +456 | 1,198 |
| 4 | Geylang Internationala | 28 | 720 | 294 (3) | 145 | 289 | 1,131 | 1,127 | +4 | 1,043 |
| 5 | Albirex Niigata (S) | 20 | 534 | 275 | 118 | 139 | 1,022 | 735 | +287 | 985 |
| 6 | Balestier Khalsa | 28 | 720 | 211 (2) | 158 | 371 | 994 | 1,396 | −402 | 756 |
| 7 | Woodlands Wellingtonc | 19 | 531 | 167 (4) | 120 | 240 | 743 | 930 | −187 | 623 |
| 8 | Young Lions | 19 | 567 | 141 (1) | 109 | 316 | 683 | 1,123 | −440 | 529 |
| 9 | Tanjong Pagar United | 15 | 404 | 136 (2) | 85 | 172 | 583 | 692 | −109 | 492 |
| 10 | Gombak United | 12 | 346 | 114 | 88 | 144 | 462 | 528 | −66 | 432 |
| 11 | Hougang Unitedf | 13 | 321 | 113 | 65 | 143 | 508 | 571 | −63 | 379 |
| 12 | DPMMd | 9 | 225 | 103 | 48 | 74 | 414 | 333 | +81 | 357 |
| 13 | Jurong Town | 7 | 179 | 70 (7) | 29 | 73 | 261 | 274 | −13 | 253 |
| 14 | Sembawang Rangers | 8 | 207 | 53 (5) | 47 | 102 | 256 | 409 | −149 | 216 |
| 15 | Lion City Sailorsg | 4 | 87 | 57 | 15 | 15 | 273 | 117 | +156 | 186 |
| 16 | Super Reds | 3 | 96 | 41 | 20 | 35 | 144 | 146 | −2 | 143 |
| 17 | Étoilef | 2 | 66 | 42 | 11 | 13 | 119 | 59 | +60 | 132 |
| 18 | Clementi Khalsa | 4 | 110 | 22 | 29 | 59 | 150 | 261 | −111 | 95 |
| 19 | Sinchib | 3 | 87 | 22 (6) | 13 | 46 | 109 | 167 | −58 | 88 |
| 20 | Harimau Muda B | 3 | 81 | 23 | 14 | 44 | 90 | 150 | −60 | 83 |
| 21 | Harimau Muda A | 1 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 37 | 23 | +14 | 42 |
| 22 | Beijing Guoan Talente | 1 | 33 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 30 | 49 | −19 | 31 |
| 23 | Liaoning Guangyuan | 1 | 33 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 33 | 63 | −30 | 29 |
| 24 | Sporting Afrique(Africa) | 1 | 30 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 36 | 59 | −23 | 24 |
| 25 | Dalian Shide Siwu | 1 | 33 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 26 | 75 | −55 | 22 |
| 26 | Paya Lebar Punggol | 1 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 23 | 78 | −55 | 4 |
| Rank | Player | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996–2001, 2002, 2003–2022 | 513 | 21 | |
| 2 | 1996–2016 | 476 | 0 | |
| 3 | 1999, 2000–2014 | 439 | 385 | |
| 4 | 1996–2016 | 419 | 178 | |
| 5 | 2002–2009, 2011–2018 | 332 | 45 | |
| 6 | 2008–2011, 2013–2017, 2018–present | 317 | 46 | |
| 7 | 2006–present | 316 | 0 | |
| 8 | 2004–2012, 2014, 2015–2021 | 312 | 145 | |
| 9 | 1997–2006, 2012. 2014–2015 | 306 | 126 | |
| 10 | 2009–2011, 2014–2023 | 293 | 9 | |
| 2006–2011, 2013–2017, 2019–present | 46 |
| Rank | Player | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999, 2000–2014 | 439 | 385 | |
| 2 | 1996–1998, 2000–2006 | 255 | 239 | |
| 3 | 1999–2008 | 239 | 226 | |
| 4 | 1996–2016 | 419 | 178 | |
| 5 | 2004–2012, 2014, 2015–2021 | 312 | 145 | |
| 6 | 2001–2010 | 237 | 133 | |
| 7 | 2004–2009, 2013, 2016–2019, 2021–2023 | 270 | 128 | |
| 8 | 1997–2006, 2012. 2014–2015 | 306 | 126 | |
| 9 | 2002–2007, 2008–2010, 2014–2015 | 212 | 125 | |
| 10 | 2010–2020 | 243 | 101 |
| Player | Club | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geylang United | 1995–1996 | Khakpour went on to captain theIran national team at the1998 FIFA World Cup held in France. | |
| Geylang United | 1996 | Estili scored in Iran's 2–1 win overUnited States in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. | |
| Sembawang Rangers | 1996 | Atkinson was included in theNew Zealand national team squad for the1999 Confederations Cup held in Mexico.[17] | |
| Tiong Bahru United | 1997 | Mbouh appeared at both the1990 and1994 FIFA World Cup. | |
| Home United | 1999–2000 | Tapai was part of theAustralia national team squad that claimed as runners-up at the1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. | |
| Geylang United | 1999–2000 | Pfannenstiel holdsthe record for the first and only footballer to play professionally in each of the six recognized continental associations. | |
| Sengkang Marine | 2001 | Holt went on to play forNorwich City where he won theNorwich City Player of the Year award in three consecutive seasons, helping Norwich to back-to-back promotions, and became the sixth highest goalscorer in their history. | |
| Gombak United | 2006–2009 | Obatola went on to become the top goalscorer in Gombak United history where he would than sign withMLS clubPortland Timbers in 2010. | |
| Home United | 2011–2013 | Mendy went on to play in the top division league in Portugal withEstoril and also won the Portugal second division league title withMoreirense. He also played in the2017 and the2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament withGuinea-Bissau. | |
| Home United | 2015–2016 | Former player atFC Midtjylland,Fortuna Düsseldorf andVfL Bochum | |
| Tampines Rovers | 2016 | FormerArsenal andLiverpool player where he played the full match for Liverpool in the2007 UEFA Champions League Final | |
| DPMM | 2018 | Won the2009 UEFA Cup Final withShakhtar Donetsk | |
| Hougang United | 2022 | Moritz helpedCrystal Palace returns to theEnglish Premier League after an eight-year absence by defeatingWatford 1–0 in the 2013 Championshipplay-off final. He also notable scored a goal from the whistle of the kick off, with a 45-yard screamer from the half-way line to give Hougang a 3–2 victory againstGeylang International | |
| Lion City Sailors | 2021–2023 | Lopes is the most expensive and the first multimillion-dollar player signing in the league history with a Singapore record transfer fee of SGD $2.9 million | |
| Lion City Sailors | 2022 | Shin-wook was part of theSouth Korea national team squad that participated in the2014 and the2018 FIFA World Cup. He also was included in the2011 and the2015 AFC Asian Cup tournament. | |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 2022–2023 | Tadanari scored the winning goal during the2011 AFC Asian CupFinal which helpedJapan won their fourth trophy. Tadanari also has played his trade atSouthampton and also won the2017 AFC Champions League withUrawa Red Diamonds. | |
| Lion City Sailors | 2023–present | Wright was part of theAustralia national team in the2014 and the2022 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the last group stage fixtures againstDenmark in the 2022 edition. Wright was also included in the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup where he featured in all of the match. |