Jesse Lingard Set to Play in South Korea!
Seoul FC, from the South Korean first division, unveiled English winger Jesse Lingard today as their new player, adding a touch of glamour to the Asian country's league at 31 years old.
After signing a contract whose details have not been disclosed (British media mentioned a two-season deal with an option for a third), Lingard was introduced to the media at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where the team plays its home matches.
"I'm looking forward to getting back on the field and winning with FC Seoul because I'm a winner and a natural competitor, and I want to win a trophy while I'm here," said the footballer during the event. Lingard has been without a club since last summer.
"I just want to enjoy playing football again and put a smile on the faces of the fans and show Korean fans what I'm capable of," explained Lingard, who arrived in South Korea last Monday. He is expected to join his new team's training camp in the coming days. The team is currently in Japan preparing for the new season of the K-League 1, which starts on March 1.
The forward, who has been capped 32 times for England, has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, a team he joined a year earlier from Manchester United, where he came through the youth ranks.
In the meantime, Lingard has been training with West Ham United, where he was on loan from the Red Devils for half a season in 2021, and Saudi club Al-Ettifaq.
The signing of the Briton aims to be a catalyst for Seoul FC, a team that despite being one of the most successful in the local league, has not won a title since 2016 and has not even qualified for the Asian Champions League in the last four seasons.
The club, owned by the large business conglomerate GS, has this year acquired the services of Kim Gi-dong, former coach of South Korea's Pohang Steelers, with whom he won the Cup and finished as league runners-up last season.
