CHIANG RAI – A hush has fallen over United Stadium after Singha Chiangrai United management announced that they had terminated their contract with midfielder Atikun Meetuam. A sharp turn that startled supporters and sparked talk about loyalty.
Atikun Meetuam, a 30-year-old from Bangkok born on 18 January 1995, arrived in 2022 with quite a promise. Not a headline buy, but a reliable central midfielder with a fierce engine. Transfermarkt listed his value at €150,000.
He came from a mid-table rival to do a clear job, link play, press smart, and keep the ball moving. In that first year, he played 25 matches, logged more than 1,800 minutes, and supplied two assists. Chiang Rai flirted with danger at times, then settled mid-table. Fans saw the graft and took to him. He did the unglamorous work, broke lines with simple passes, and kept the tempo like a metronome.
By 2023, he felt woven into the club’s rhythm. Under coach Sarayut Somnuek, he started 28 games, scored once, and set up three more. The goal, a curled strike against Buriram United, quieted critics for a spell. His link-up with Brazilian playmaker Carlos Iury stood out, a neat blend of local nous and flair from abroad.
Chiangrai United to Run Out Contract
Chiangrai United finished eighth, a step forward. Shirt sales in his name rose as school kids chased a new idol. Away from the pitch, he fit the north with ease, from training by misty paddy fields to lending a hand at youth clinics in hill-tribe communities. He even leaned into the squad’s pre-match heat with fiery Isaan curries. A contract running through 2025 felt like a sign of stability in a squad that often changed around him.
Then 2024 arrived with a wobble. A heavy challenge in a Thai Cup quarter-final cost him six weeks. On his return, the middle of the park looked crowded. New faces, including South Korean box-to-box midfielder Seung-Won Lee, took minutes and nudged him to the bench.
He still made 18 appearances, but the numbers dipped. Sofascore showed his average passes per game fell from 52 to 41. Murmurs surfaced about form and pace. Some pundits pointed to his age, the league leaning younger, the standards rising.
Off the field, money pressures tightened. Broadcast income stalled across the Thai League. Sponsorship from Singha came with clear demands for progress. With Chiangrai United stuck around 10th as 2025 dawned, talk of a reset grew. Local outlets such as Soccersuck reported pressure inside the boardroom to cut wages and push youth, or risk a flat season.
The split became public on the club’s Facebook page, a feed followed by roughly 784,000 people. The line given was short, a parting by mutual agreement. No hint of conflict, no breach. Yet whispers to Ballthai.com claimed performance clauses played a part.
“Grateful for the battles, Onward.”
By October 2025, Atikun had seven league starts, with no goals or assists, and a stack of yellows that hinted at strain. The agreement ended a deal that was due to run until 31 December 2025. That meant months of pay left behind, but also a clean slate.
FIFA rules around unilateral exits can bite, with compensation fights common, but a mutual sign-off keeps both club and player clear of the Dispute Resolution Chamber.
His reply on Instagram kept a steady tone. A black-and-white shot of him tying his boots, and a simple line, “Grateful for the battles. Onward.” The replies rolled in. Hearts from the north, sadness from long-time followers, and pleas for a rethink.
One comment read, “He gave his soul.” Another blamed the club for chasing echoes of 2020. The choice touches more than one career. The midfield now leans towards younger options such as 22-year-old Piyaphon Phanichakul.
He brings speed and drive, but not yet the calm touch that Atikun offered. The wage bill is trimmed by an estimated ฿500,000 per month. That cash could support scouting, perhaps even across the border in Myanmar, where Chiang Rai has looked before.
The football case makes sense on paper. The economy of Thai League 1 has tightened, prize money has not leaped, and clubs must spot value early. The Beetles seek energy and upside, which often means age profiles shift.
For all that, losing a steady hand in the middle alters a team’s feel. Chiangrai United’s style relies on smart pressing, clean passing lanes, and quick breaks. Atikun’s best runs provided that glue. Without him, the pattern may grow bolder but less measured.
What Comes Next?
What comes next for the player looks open. At 30, he still has miles in his legs. A move within Thai League 1 would not shock, perhaps a squad role at a contender, or a switch to T2 for regular minutes. A trial abroad, maybe in the J.League system, would take nerve but not sit outside the bounds, given his experience and profile.
He has national team exposure from the 2023 AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers, which carries weight. His agent will know that availability mid-season can be an edge, since clubs often need cover after injuries and early exits from cups.
For Chiangrai United, the call reads like a bet on renewal. The staff now must build a balanced midfield without their safety valve. Seung-Won Lee brings box-to-box energy. Carlos Iury can thread the final pass if given protection. Piyaphon has the pace to lead counters.
The risk is clear, since control can slip when youth replaces know-how. The upside is equally clear, since a lighter budget can fund two or three prospects for the price of one senior starter.
Supporters will watch for the short-term effects. Can the Beetles hold the ball under pressure in away fixtures at Buriram or BG Pathum? Can set-piece routines make up for the loss of a calm outlet? Can academy graduates step up fast enough to keep results steady? Results in the next six to eight matches will tell the story better than any statement.
The larger point feels familiar in Thai football. Contracts end early when form dips or budgets tighten. Players move on, new faces take the stage, and clubs hope to catch a wave before the next cycle arrives. It is harsh at times, but it keeps squads fresh and forces clear choices.
Atikun Meetuam leaves Chiangrai United with respect from many who watched him play. He earned that with effort and consistency, not noise. The Beetles keep buzzing, only now without their quiet organizer in the middle.
Football’s charm lies in change, and this is another turn in that wheel. For the player, it is a chance to reset and prove a point. For the club, it is a test of planning and patience. For fans, it is a reminder that even strong bonds can be brief, and that goodbyes are part of the game.
