Fulham finally get Seol on their side
Published: 02 Sep. 2007, 21:02
Seol Ki-hyeon, on the move to Fulham. [YONHAP]
Following a a month of speculation about his future, Seol Ki-hyeon went from Reading to Fulham, while Lee Chun-soo, formerly with K-League’s Ulsan Tigers, signed with the Dutch club Feyenoord.
Seol joined Fulham on a three-year deal, and Liam Rosenior will be going to Reading. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Seol, a midfielder, had been frequently mentioned in connection with a move to Fulham before the Premiership season kicked off early August. While Reading manager Steve Coppell denied Seol was on the move, the 28-year-old Korean was once quoted by The Sun as saying, “Fulham wants me and I would be happy to play for them. There is a chance I will start the season as a Fulham player. I want to play every week.”
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez hinted on the team’s Web site that Seol will get every chance to showcase his skills.
“Seol has many of the attributes that I look for in a player; he is strong and tenacious and is prepared to work hard to create opportunities for himself and the team,” Sanchez said. “He can play as a striker but also has the ability to pose a threat on both sides of our midfield, which offers depth and dimension to the squad.
“I believe he will be a great addition to our combined attacking effort, and have no doubt of his capabilities following his fantastic performance for Reading last season,” Sanchez added.
In his Premiership debut last year, Seol scored three goals in the team’s first 15 games. But he didn’t score again until the season’s 38th and final match in May against Blackburn. In the process, Seol lost his starting job to Glen Little.
Lee Chun-soo, 26, was linked with a move to Fulham over summer. Instead, he will be going to the Netherlands on a four-year contract, becoming the second Korean to don the Feyenoord uniform. Defensive back Song Chong-gug played for the Dutch side from 2002 to 2005. The terms of the Lee deal were not disclosed.
Lee, the K-League’s most valuable player in 2005, had unsuccessful spells for Spain’s Real Sociedad and Numancia. He has played in two World Cups.
“We have been following him for a while, and we’ve scouted him extensively” Feyenoord’s technical manager Peter Bosz told the team’s Web site.
“We’ve also talked with [Dutch nationals] Pim Verbeek and Dick Advocaat, who have both been national coach of Korea. They had a positive opinion of him as a person and a professional.”
By Yoo Jee-ho Staff Writer [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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