FC Seoul signs English footballer Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard signs with K League 1 side FC Seoul. [SCREENCAPTURE]

English footballer Jesse Lingard has completed his move to K League 1 side FC Seoul, the club announced Thursday.

“Based on respect for Korean football, I am excited to represent the K-League as soon as possible by playing good football and dedication to my new team, FC Seoul,” Lingard said in the club’s announcement posted to Instagram. “I am looking forward to meeting coach [Kim Gi-dong] and to make an impact in the team.”

Lingard signed a two-year deal with a one-year option, according to British broadcaster Sky Sports.

The 31-year-old Premier League veteran arrived at Incheon International Airport on Monday afternoon a week after multiple British media outlets reported he could soon be moving to Korea.

Lingard was set to physically ink the deal and complete a medical. He will reportedly join the team for training in Kagoshima, Japan.

Lingard, who spent a decade at Premier League club Manchester United and made dozens of caps for England, is a big add to the capital side lineup.

FC Seoul finished an unremarkable 2023 season in seventh place on the 12-team K League 1 table and have not managed a league title since 2016.

But the Lingard signing could be a sign of changes at the club as it pieces together a fresh look ahead of the 2024 season.

The club in December hired manager Kim Gi-dong, who most recently helmed the Pohang Steelers, the 2023 league runners-up.

Lingard will join a handful of foreign players on the FC Seoul lineup. The capital side in January renewed a contract with midfielder Palocevic and in December signed Willyan from K League 1 side Daejon Hana Citizen.

The former England forward could help fill the gap left by ex-FC Seoul winger Na Sang-ho, who carried the team’s attack last season with 12 goals in 38 league matches. Na left the team last month to join Japanese team Machida Zelvia.

An FC Seoul official last week told Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo that Lingard would be the K League’s highest-paid player, with his salary said to be around 1.55 billion won ($1.15 million) per year.

FC Seoul first play Gwangju FC in Gwangju on March 2.

BY MARY YANG AND PAIK JI-HWAN [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]