Former Manchester United and England star Jesse Lingard has completed a surprise transfer to South Korean club FC Seoul. The 31-year-old midfielder has signed a two-year contract with the six-time K League champions, ending months of speculation about his future.
Lingard, who was a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest last summer, passed his medical on Monday and flew to Seoul to finalise his deal. He is expected to be unveiled as FC Seoul’s new signing later this week.
The move marks a stunning change of fortunes for Lingard, who was once regarded as one of the most promising talents in English football. He made 210 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 33 goals and winning four trophies, including the FA Cup and the Europa League. He also earned 24 caps for England, scoring four goals and playing at the 2018 World Cup.
However, Lingard’s career took a downward turn in recent years, as he struggled for form and fitness at Manchester United and was loaned out to West Ham United in 2021. He failed to secure a permanent move to the Hammers and joined Nottingham Forest on a short-term deal, but could not help them avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Lingard had been linked with several clubs in Europe and Asia, but none of them materialised into concrete offers. He reportedly turned down a trial at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq in October and trained with West Ham for a few weeks in January, but was not offered a contract.
Lingard’s decision to join FC Seoul is seen as a bold and adventurous move, as he becomes one of the few English players to play in the K League. He will join a club that finished fourth in the league last season and has qualified for the AFC Champions League. He will also have the opportunity to explore new horizons in South Korea, where he has expressed interest in expanding his off-field ventures in Esports, fashion and restaurant businesses.
Lingard will hope that his move to FC Seoul will reignite his career and prove his critics wrong. He will also aim to impress his new fans and teammates, who will be eager to see him in action. Lingard will wear the number 10 shirt for FC Seoul and could make his debut in their opening league game against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on March 3
