Singapore Premier League


The Singapore Premier League, commonly abbreviated as the SPL, officially known as the AIA Singapore Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a men's professional football league sanctioned by the Football Association of Singapore, which represents the sport's highest level in the football league system">association football">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 the AFC Champions League Two. The SPL currently does not practice promotion and relegation. Since the league's inception in 1996, 7 clubs have been crowned champions. Warriors have been the most successful club with 9 titles, followed by Albirex Niigata (S), Tampines Rovers, Lion City Sailors, Geylang International, DPMM and Étoile. The current champions are Lion City Sailors, having won their fourth league title in the 2024–25 season.

History

Origins

Singapore had been represented in the Malaysia Cup through the Singapore 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 the FAS and FAM 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-professional FAS Premier League. This team won the last FAS Premier League title, finishing the season unbeaten.

S.League era (1996–2017)

Inaugural season

The S.League was founded in 1996. The FAS invited applications for clubs to compete in the newly formed league. Eight successful applications were made. Two clubs from the Premier League – powerhouse Geylang International and Balestier United – joined six from the amateur National Football League – Police SA, Singapore Armed Forces, Tampines Rovers, Tiong Bahru United, Wellington and Sembawang Rangers – 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. The 30,000 crowd at the playoff remains the record attendance in the S.League.

Expansion of the league

Police FC renamed themselves as Home United for the 1997 season to reflect their representation of not only the Singapore Police Force but also other HomeTeam Departments of the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs such as the SCDF and the ICA. NFL side Jurong Town, who renamed themselves Jurong 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 and Marine Castle United joined the S.League in 1998, 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 in 1999 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.

Invited clubs

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 in 2003. Chinese nationals Shi Jiayi and Qiu Li went on to become naturalised Singapore players.
Sporting Afrique, a club made up of African players, and Super 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 the 2007 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 clubs Liaoning, Dalian Shide and Beijing Guoan 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 club DPMM joined the S.League in 2009 before being pulled from the league as a result of a FIFA ban. They re-entered the league in 2012. They were the first club to base themselves outside of Singapore. In 2010, French club Étoile 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 sides Harimau Muda A and Harimau Muda B joined the S.League following an agreement between the Football Association of Singapore and the Football Association of Malaysia to send their representative sides into their respective domestic competitions. Singaporean side LionsXII returned to the Malaysian competitions in 2012. Echoing the former Singapore FA, the LionsXII quickly became a successful force in the Malaysian league system during its short stint, winning the league title in 2013 as well as the FA Cup in 2015.
However, on 25 November 2015, the FAM decided not to extend their Memorandum of Understanding 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.
J.League club Albirex Niigata entered their feeder club Albirex Niigata Singapore in the 2004 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.

20th season

The league took on several changes for the 2015 season to increase its competitiveness. The number of clubs was reduced from 12 to 10, with the withdrawal of Tanjong Pagar United due to financial problems, and the merger of Woodlands Wellington and Hougang United. The league returned to a three-round format used from 2001 to 2011. The foreign player quota remained at five per club, but incentives were given to those who signed an under-21 player. The passing time for the mandatory 2.4 km fitness test was lowered from 10 mins to 9 mins 45 s. 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.

Rebranding as Singapore Premier League (2018–''present'')

The league was rebranded as the Singapore 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.
Singapore Premier League clubs can sign a maximum of four foreign players in the 2020 season, up from three as compared to the 2019 season. In the 2022 season, eight teams played a four-round format for the first time in its entire league history.
In response to changes in Asian Football Confederation Club Competitions and potential FIFA International Calendar amendments, FAS announced that the league calendar will undergo a two-year transition process. The 2024-25 season was played from 10 May 2024 to 25 May 2025, the first time that a season was scheduled over a two-year period.
The 2025-26 season would then align with AFC Club Competitions, starting in August 2025 and concluding in May 2026, setting the timeline for subsequent seasons. This move is important in terms of aligning transfer windows, as well as allowing for the easier calendaring of national or regional club tournaments.

Competition format

There is no relegation or promotion system in the league. Clubs enter the Singapore Premier League by invitation of the Football Association of Singapore.
SeasonNo. of clubsMatches per clubNotes
1996814 × 2 seriesOne title playoff match between series winners at the end of the season.
1997916
19981120
1999–20001222
2001–20031233In 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.
2004–20051027
20061130
2007–20111233DPMM's results were expunged towards the end of 2009 following a FIFA ban, officially leaving 11 teams playing 30 matches each.
20121324
2013–20141227The 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.
20151027The league returned to a three-round format.
2016–2017924
2018–2019924
2020814
2021821
2022828The league will play a four-round format for the first time in its entire history.
2023924The league returned to a three-round format.
2024–25932The league returned a four-round format.
2025–26821The league returned to a three-round format.

Clubs

A total of 25 clubs have played in the league from its inception in 1996 up to and including the 2024–25 season. The following 8 clubs are competing in the league during the 2025–26 season.
ClubFoundedBasedStadiumCapacityFormer names
Albirex Niigata (S)2004Jurong EastJurong East Stadium2,700
Balestier Khalsa1898Toa PayohToa Payoh Stadium3,800formed from merger of Balestier Central and Clementi Khalsa in 2002.
Geylang International1973BedokBedok Stadium3,800known as Geylang United from 1996 to 2012.
Lion City Sailors1946BishanBishan Stadium6,254known as Police FC in debut season; formerly as Home United from 1997 to 2020.
Hougang United1998HougangHougang Stadium6,000known as Marine Castle United, Sengkang Marine, Sengkang Punggol.
Tampines Rovers1945TampinesTampines Hub">Tampines, Singapore">Tampines Hub5,000
Tanjong Pagar United1974QueenstownQueenstown Stadium3,800known as Tiong Bahru Constituency Sports Club, Tiong Bahru United.
Young Lions2002KallangJalan Besar Stadium6,000Sponsorship name; Courts Young Lions, Garena Young Lions.

Balestier Khalsa, Geylang International and Tampines Rovers are clubs that have played in all 28 seasons of the Singapore Premier League as of 2024.

Former clubs

Invited clubs

Sponsorship

After an inaugural season with no sponsorship, the league was sponsored by Great Eastern from 2009 until 2018 when Yeo's and Hyundai became the joint sponsors, during which time it was known as the Great Eastern-'Yeo's S.League and the Great 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.
PeriodSponsorBrand
1996–2008No sponsorS.League
2009–2016Great Eastern-Yeo'sGreat Eastern-Yeo's S.League
2017–2018Great Eastern-Hyundai– Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League
– Great Eastern-Hyundai Singapore Premier League
2019–presentAIAAIA Singapore Premier League

Qualification for Asian competitions

The league's winners qualify for the AFC Champions League 2, the same as the Singapore Cup winners. Foreign clubs are ineligible to represent the Football Association of Singapore in AFC 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.

Winners

The league has seen seven clubs win the title since its inception. Warriors hold the most titles at nine. In 2010, Étoile became the first foreign side to win the competition.
SeasonWinnersRunners-up
1996*Geylang UnitedSingapore Armed Forces
1997Singapore Armed ForcesTiong Bahru United
1998Singapore Armed Forces Tanjong Pagar United
1999Home UnitedSingapore Armed Forces
2000Singapore Armed Forces Tanjong Pagar United
2001Geylang United Singapore Armed Forces
2002Singapore Armed Forces Home United
2003Home United Geylang United
2004Tampines RoversHome United
2005Tampines Rovers Singapore Armed Forces
2006Singapore Armed Forces Tampines Rovers
2007Singapore Armed Forces Home United
2008Singapore Armed Forces Super Reds
2009Singapore Armed Forces Tampines Rovers
2010ÉtoileTampines Rovers
2011Tampines Rovers Home United
2012Tampines Rovers DPMM
2013Tampines Rovers Home United
2014Warriors DPMM
2015DPMMTampines Rovers
2016Albirex Niigata (S)Tampines Rovers
2017Albirex Niigata (S) Tampines Rovers
2018Albirex Niigata (S) Home United
2019DPMM Tampines Rovers
2020Albirex Niigata (S) Tampines Rovers
2021Lion City Sailors Albirex Niigata (S)
2022Albirex Niigata (S) Lion City Sailors
2023Albirex Niigata (S) Lion City Sailors
2024–25Lion City Sailors Tampines Rovers

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 which Geylang United defeated Singapore Armed Forces to claim the first S.League title.

    Titles by clubs

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning years
Warriors941997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014
Albirex Niigata (S)612016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023
Tampines Rovers582004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013
Lion City Sailors481999, 2003, 2021, 2024–25
DPMM222015, 2019
Geylang International211996, 2001
Étoile102010
Tanjong Pagar United03
Super Reds01

Invited clubs

Awards

Prize money

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.
As of the 2025–26 season. Prize money are in Singapore dollar.
  • Champions: $200,000
  • Runner-up: $150,000
  • Third place: $100,000
  • Fourth place: $70,000
  • Fifth place: $50,000
  • Sixth place: $30,000

    All-time league table

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 the 2023 season. Teams in bold are part of the 2024–25 season.
Pos
Club
No. of
Seasons		Pld
W D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1Tampines Rovers28720389 1451831,425909+5161,318
2Warriors a24654371 1211601,407865+5421,238
3Home United24654357 1231721,309853+4561,198
4Geylang International a28720294 1452891,1311,127+41,043
5Albirex Niigata (S)205342751181391,022735+287985
6Balestier Khalsa28720211 1583719941,396−402756
7Woodlands Wellington c19531167 120240743930−187623
8Young Lions19567141 1093166831,123−440529
9Tanjong Pagar United15404136 85172583692−109492
10Gombak United1234611488144462528−66432
11Hougang United f1332111365143508571−63379
12DPMM d92251034874414333+81357
13Jurong Town717970 2973261274−13253
14Sembawang Rangers820753 47102256409−149216
15Lion City Sailors g487571515273117+156186
16Super Reds396412035144146−2143
17Étoile f26642111311959+60132
18Clementi Khalsa4110222959150261−11195
19Sinchi b38722 1346109167−5888
20Harimau Muda B38123144490150−6083
21Harimau Muda A12413383723+1442
22Beijing Guoan Talent e133106173049−1931
23Liaoning Guangyuan13385203363−3029
24Sporting Afrique 13059263659−2324
25Dalian Shide Siwu13357212675−5522
26Paya Lebar Punggol12711252378−554


Records and statistics

Club records

RankPlayerYearsAppearancesGoals
1

Notable foreign players

  • Foreigner that naturalised as a Singaporean is not counted in the list.
  • Only applicable as a player and not as a coach after their retirement.
PlayerClubYearsNotes
Iran