Swansea, Gwangju meet over Eom Ji-sung transfer on Wednesday

Football

Published: 03 Jul. 2024, 16:07 Updated: 03 Jul. 2024, 17:08

Swansea, Gwangju meet over Eom Ji-sung transfer on Wednesday

Eom Ji-sung, center, attempts to dribble during a match against Kyrgyzstan in the Group B preliminary round of the U-23 AFC Asian Cup at Changwon Football Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province on Sept. 9, 2023. [KFA/NEWS1]

The heads of Gwangju FC and Swansea City are set to hold a video conference on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the U.K. — 5 p.m. in Korea — to discuss 22-year-old winger Eom Ji-sung’s pending transfer to the Welsh club, a Gwangju official told the Korea JoongAng Daily on Wednesday afternoon.

The latest development comes after Gwangju seemingly missed a deadline to finalize the deal earlier the same day.

Eom’s move to Swansea has been a start-stop conversation between the two clubs over the last week, with Gwangju reportedly refusing to let Eom go and then, days later, greenlighting the move — only to seemingly ghost the Welsh club at the finish line.

An official on Monday told the Korea JoongAng Daily that Gwangju had decided to permit the move, although the deal was still being finalized.

"The transfer of Eom Ji-sung to Swansea City was assumed to be official, but it has been delayed due to senseless rumors about the transfer fee," the Gwangju official told the Korea JoongAng Daily on Wednesday afternoon.

"But Gwangju have constantly communicated with Swansea City, and we have decided to hold a video conference between Gwangju FC CEO Noh Dong-il and the Swansea City president today at 5 p.m.

"Gwangju will only focus on the success of our iconic player Eom Ji-sung despite various interests and push for his transfer."

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