The YoHealth Malta Premier 2025/26 kicks-off on Saturday as newly-promoted Valletta take on Birkirkara and Zabbar St. Patrick face Sliema Wanderers in two matches at the National Stadium.
This will be the second year the format consisting of an Opening Round and a Closing Round will be used. Following last year’s experience, clubs should be better prepared for this format which in the end rewards the team which manages to be at its best in the Final Four semi-finals and final after taking one of the top two spots in either round, unless the same team wins both the Opening and Closing Rounds.
Counting the total number of points obtained through the league campaign last season, Floriana earned 62 points, four ahead of Sliema Wanderers, six ahead of Birkirkara and ten ahead of Hamrun Spartans but in the end, Hamrun won the championship after defeating Floriana on penalties in the semi-finals and Birkirkara 1-0 in the final with the Greens settling for third place after defeating Sliema in a play-off for third place.
The first match on Saturday welcomes Valletta back among the elite after their relegation at the end of season 2023/24. Led by coach Thane Micallef, the Citizens won the Challenge League and now aim at establishing themselves once again in the Malta Premier.
The Citizens secured the services of Steve Borg, Mattias Ellul, Yannick Yankam and Thomas Melillo along with Brazilian goalkeeper Adilson Maringá, Serbian central defender Sava Radic, American right back Shaft Brewer Jr, German central defender Emmanuel Mbende, Colombian midfielder Jackson Mendoza, Angolan winger Thaylor and Brazilian forwards Jefferson and Yuri Messias. Players like goalkeeper Timmy Aquilina, Zachary Cassar, Neil Micallef, Rowen Muscat, Brandon Paiber, Andrea Zammit and Andrei Ciolacu, who formed part of last season’s squad, were confirmed. However, James Scicluna, Peter Xuereb, Ayrton Attard, Jacob Walker, Neil Tabone, Christian Gauci, Enoch Mushagalusa, Enzo Ruiz, Aidan Friggieri and Jefferson Ferreira were not retained.
On the other hand, challenging for honours will be once again Birkirkara’s main objective. This summer, they suffered an early exit from the UEFA Conference League when they were eliminated by FC Petrocub with a 3-1 aggregate score following the narrow win for the Stripes at the Centenary Stadium.
With Stefano De Angelis confirmed as coach, this summer, the squad has been strengthened with the signing of goalkeeper Spanish goalkeeper Miguel Ángel Martínez, Uruguayan central defender Fran Lopez, Serbian central defender Stefan Marjanovic, Argentine midfielder Marcos Maydana, Ghanian midfielder Geoffrey Acheampong, attacking midfielder Jan Busuttil, Brazilian left winger Macula and Nigerian forward Franklin Sasere. Kurt Zammit returned to the club after a spell on loan with Gzira United.
Luis Cordova, Leandro Lacunza, Manuel Morello, Pablo Gaitan and Donovan Makoma were confirmed but Giacomo Volpe, Alessandro Coppola, Tomislav Papazov, Agustin Sandona, Larsson Coulibaly, Brian Esalo, Gnamien Yipke, Lecao, Maxuell Samurai, Alexander Satariano and Paul Mbong no longer form part of the squad.
Meanwhile the second match in programme on Saturday sees Zabbar St. Patrick facing Sliema Wanderers.
The Saints secured their Premier status with a fine comeback after a poor start in the Opening Round league phase. This season, they will aim at doing better by securing a Top 6 spot.
Coach Aniello Parisi will lead the team once again and his options were boosted with the signing of a mixture of experienced and young players, including Jonathan Grech, Zean Leonardi, Ryan Scicluna, Nicholas James Agius, Kean Scicluna, Timothy Eviparker, Cameron Dalli, Craig Micallef, Zven Polidano and Shaun Carabott along with Brazilian central defender Mayron, Sierra Leonean midfielder Abu Dumbuya, Korean Youngwon Im, Guinea Bissauan right winger Toni Silva, Brazilian right winger Samuel Gomes, Italian forward Mario Fontanella, Argentine forward Pedro Cejas and Chadian forward Haroun Tchaouna.
Lukas Djodj, Jurgen Pisani, Joao Pedro, Samuel and Isaac Davey, Gianluca Zammit, Dion Fava, Antonio Pio Iervolino, Stefan Ilic, Diogo Tavares, David Oliveira, Kristian Keqi, Marcelo Santos, Djordje Jovicic and Bonilha are no longer with the club.
On the other hand, Sliema Wanderers strengthened the squad considerably with a number of experience players in their bid to be among the main challengers for honours. Goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi returns to the club after a spell in Moldova while Malta international forward Luke Montebello is definitely a welcome addition. Other new signings include Croatian midfielder Roko Prsa, French midfielder Boubakary Diarra, two American players defender Andre Lee Cutler and forward Sulahmana Mamadu Bah and three Brazilian players defender Thiaguinho, midfielder Miguel Baggio and forward Fernandinho.
From last season’s squad, Geoffrey Acheampong, Maksym Pryadun, Simon Zibo, Mohamed Awad, Samba Kone, Haraan Barbosa and goalkeeper Josip Bender were not retained.
| Sat 16-Aug-2025 | Valletta FC vs Birkirkara FC | 18:45 | National Stadium |
| Sat 16-Aug-2025 | Zabbar St. Patrick FC vs Sliema Wanderers FC | 21:00 | National Stadium |
| Sun 17-Aug-2025 | Marsaxlokk FC vs Mosta FC | 18:45 | National Stadium |
| Sun 17-Aug-2025 | Tarxien Rainbows FC vs Hamrun Spartans FC | 19:30 | Tony Bezzina Stadium |
| Sun 17-Aug-2025 | Naxxar Lions FC vs Floriana FC | 21:00 | National Stadium |
| Mon 18-Aug-2025 | Hibernians FC vs Gzira United FC | 19:00 | Tony Bezzina Stadium |