Former Standard Liege left winger adds European pedigree to Sailors' AFC Champions League drive
PHOTO: STANDARD LIEGE
Singapore, 8 February 2022 – Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors have announced the signing of Maxime Lestienne from Belgium's top tier side Standard Liege ahead of the club’s defence of its Singapore Premier League (SPL) title and maiden participation in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) in the 2022 season.
Lestienne brings valuable UEFA Champions League (UCL) experience to the Sailors squad as Kim Do-hoon’s charges ramp up preparations ahead of the 2022 season that will see the club defend its Singapore Premier League (SPL) title and make its debut in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).
PHOTO: STANDARD LIEGE
The 1.77m left-footed wide player joins from Belgian top-tier side, Standard Liege, on a free transfer and will join the club on a two-year contract, and becomes the fourth foreign signing for the Sailors, following in the footsteps of Brazilian playmaker Diego Lopes, centre-back Pedro Henrique, and former South Korean captain and striker Kim Shin-wook.
The move was completed ahead of the closure of the European transfer window on 31 January – the SPL window closes on 25 March – with Lestienne expected to arrive in Singapore prior to the opening of the domestic football season on 19 February when the Sailors face Albirex Niigata in the AIA Community Shield.
PHOTO: STANDARD LIEGE
Lestienne was a part of PSV Eindhoven’s 2015/16 UCL squad that fell at the Round of 16 to eventual finalists, Atletico Madrid. The Dutch giants came out of Group B at the expense of Manchester United, with Lestienne recording two goals and two assists for PSV during that European campaign.
He has a record of 29 appearances and six goals in UEFA’s second tier regional competition, the Europa League, with Standard and fellow Belgian side Club Brugge.