Hwang Ui-jo could be headed to K League side FC Seoul: Reports

Hwang Ui-jo, then of Olympiacos, fights for the ball with Nantes' French defender Nicolas Pallois during a Europa League match at La Beaujoire stadium in Nantes on Sept. 8, 2022. [AFP/YONHAP]

Hwang Ui-jo is expected to join K League 1 side FC Seoul on a six-month loan, according to multiple reports Thursday.

Korean media reported Thursday that FC Seoul are negotiating with Nottingham Forest to sign the forward to a six-month loan that would bring him back to the K League for the first time since 2017.

Hwang had been on loan to Greek side Olympiacos, but the deal ended at midnight on Monday. Hwang is ineligible to play for Nottingham or any other European team this season under FIFA rules because he has already appeared for two clubs.

However, if Hwang moves to a team playing in a league that does not follow a concurrent schedule to the Greek or French leagues, he will be able to play. The most obvious candidates for Hwang’s new home are teams in Korea or the United States.

MLS had seemed like the most likely option — Nottingham have apparently entertained deals from the Chicago Fire, Atlanta United and Minnesota United. According to Korean reports, however, Hwang is interested in returning to Korea as he looks to rehabilitate from a protracted slump.

Hwang, a Korean national team starter that has slipped from Ligue 1 star to Greek Super League reject in less than a year, has seen things go from bad to worse since he was shipped off to Greece last summer.

After making a slow start to his career with Olympiacos, where he was on loan from Forest, Hwang was entirely excluded from the squad for the last nine Super League games, and has only played more than 11 minutes in three league matches this season.

In the Europa League he saw more success, appearing in every game this season until Olympiacos was knocked out in November.

Hwang failed to score a single goal in all competitions and has just one assist in a league game on Sept. 3. Considering that he spent the last two seasons as Bordeaux’s top scorer in the French Ligue 1, Hwang’s form has taken an exceptionally steep dive and, at 30, it’s difficult to imagine how many opportunities he is going to get to bounce back.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]