This 6'9 Footballer Just Signed in a League Where the Average Height Is 5'7

With a stature that wouldn't look out of place on an NBA court, Kyle Hudlin, who stands at 6ft 9in, has certainly stood out on his unorthodox rise through the English football pyramid in recent years.

This story features numerous goals, interest from Pep Guardiola, and becoming a fan favourite in the video game FC25.

Now, the towering striker, who also moonlights as a fashion model, has been released by Huddersfield Town and has set sail for a fascinating new chapter in Asia, with Vietnamese champions, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh.

Hudlin poses with his new teammate during his first training session in Vietnam (KyleHudlin25 / X)

Career So Far

Hudlin's path to professional football has been anything but traditional. In 2018, he was studying Sport and Fitness at University College Birmingham, while playing for local Midlands side, Boldmere Sports.

After being picked up by National League side Solihull Moors, Hudlin started to grab attention with not just his frame, but also his keen eye for a goal.

This guy made the jump from Step 7 and is still only 20...🤯

Kyle Hudlin - 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 🏆 pic.twitter.com/61Ans4UXWM

— Solihull Moors FC (@SolihullMoors) May 30, 2021

Dubbed as "Britain's tallest outfield player", he enjoyed two successful seasons with Solihull, scoring 17 times in 69 appearances and narrowly missing out on promotion to the Football League.

This unique combination of height and goal-scoring prowess was an intriguing proposition for several sides, including brief interest from then-Premier League champions Manchester City.

A move to the Etihad didn't materialise, but Championship outfit Huddersfield signed Hudlin.

After struggling to break into Neil Warnock's side, the forward had disappointing loan spells at Wimbledon and Burton before finding glimpses of form for Newport County last season.

But now, in a move completely out of left field, Hudlin has swapped West Yorkshire for Vietnam.

Kyle Hudlin signing for a club in the Vietnamese league was not on my 2025 bingo card!

Most random transfer of the summer?#htafc #ncafc #bafc https://t.co/xOguLNKaU8

— David Wilson-Turner (@davidwt1997) July 18, 2025

Why Vietnam?

Vietnam ranks as the 15th shortest country on the planet, with the average male measuring just 5ft 4in, and the V League.1 average height is marginally taller at 5ft 7in. By comparison, Hudlin dwarfs the league by over a foot.

This advantage is perhaps the thinking behind the move, given that he will be an obvious aerial threat for his new side. Assuming that the physical element of the Vietnamese league doesn't stack up to the English game, it could be assumed that Hadlin should have success if quality service is available from his teammates.

It is worth noting, however, that the standard of football is improving in Southeast Asia, particularly with the recent influx of South American players, who have brought a wealth of technical qualities. Hudlin will also have a chance to play in the AFC Champions League Two with his new side.

The Akinfenwa-Esque Brand

Hudlin is keen to utilise his unique features into a brand for himself, which resembles that of Adebayo Akinfenwa.

He was told he was too big for football.

He's been rated 99 for strength on FIFA.

He's been described by Jürgen Klopp as “a legend of English football”.

After 22 years as a professional footballer with nearly 800 appearances and more than 200 goals.

Adebayo Akinfenwa retires. pic.twitter.com/lg3yScN68m

— bet365 (@bet365) May 21, 2022

Akinfenwa gained public attention with his incredible strength and physique, as well as his popularity within the FIFA YouTube scene.

Akinfenwa enjoyed a successful but unremarkable career on the pitch. Still, his off-field popularity skyrocketed as he launched a successful clothing brand, amassed thousands of online followers, and became a mainstay on football shows ever since.

A glance at Hudlin's social media presence indicates that he is aiming to follow suit, having recently launched a YouTube channel where he is "vlogging" his life within football as well as modelling opportunities that target a taller demographic.

Similar to Akinfenwa, Hudlin has gained popularity with a younger audience through his playable card on FC25, which offers players the opportunity to use a player with such unique attributes.

This has translated to Hudlin's growing off-field popularity, though there is disappointment from fans that he will not be on next year's edition of the game.

Hudlin REMOVED from FC 26 ❌

His new club Nam Dinh FC is not playable in FC26 😔

It was a pleasure legend #fc26 pic.twitter.com/M9NUa2W33i

— Fendy Merland (@FendyMerland) July 19, 2025