English midfielder Jesse Lingard on brink of deal with K League's FC Seoul: Reports

Football

Published: 02 Feb. 2024, 12:53

English midfielder Jesse Lingard on brink of deal with K League's FC Seoul: Reports

England's Jesse Lingard celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup 2022 Group I qualifying match between England and Andorra at Wembley in London on Sept. 5, 2021. [AP/YONHAP]

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard is close to completing a move to K League side FC Seoul, according to multiple reports.

Kim Gi-dong appointed as FC Seoul manager

According to Sky Sports News, Lingard verbally agreed to a two-year deal with a third-year option with the capital team and is set to travel to Korea in the coming days.

It would be a big win for FC Seoul, who ended an unimpressive 2023 K League season in seventh place on the 12-team table after blowing a strong start. Former manager An Ik-soo resigned in the middle of the season after the team went five straight games without a win.

And it’s a surprise move for the 31-year-old English footballer, who made nearly 150 appearances over a decade-long spell at Manchester United during which he scored 20 goals for the team.

He also spent time at West Ham on a loan, scoring nine goals over 16 appearances, and was reportedly training with his former club as a free agent last year but did not reach a deal.

In 2022, Lingard signed with Premier League side Nottingham Forest, where he briefly overlapped with now-suspended Korea striker Hwang Ui-jo, who joined the team in August that year but was immediately loaned out to Greek club Olympiacos — where he had a terrible run — and then, for five months at the start of 2023, FC Seoul.

Hwang Ui-jo joins K League 1 club FC Seoul

Lingard has also notched plenty of caps for England, playing in the 2018 World Cup where the national team finished fourth — though he missed out on the 2022 squad in Doha, Qatar despite playing in qualifying rounds.

Lingard had been considering a move to Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al Ettifaq and an offer in Turkey, according to Sky Sports News, but those deals fell through.

Lingard’s signing would be a big move for FC Seoul and a potential sign of changes at the club after it brought in manager Kim Gi-dong in December.

Kim joined the capital side after managing a runner-up finish at the helm of the Pohang Steelers, fresh off a Korean FA Cup win in the fall.

The K League season kicks off on March 1.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]