Jeonbuk acquire former European prospect Lee Seung-woo from Suwon FC

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder Lee Seung-woo poses in a photo shared on the club's official Facebook account on Wedensday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors announced Wednesday they have acquired forward Lee Seung-woo, finalizing the former FC Barcelona youth player's transfer from Suwon FC.

Lee is third in the K League 1 scoring this season with 10 goals, more than any other Korean player. He hadalready announced the imminent move himself on Sunday after an away match in Incheon, grabbing a megaphone to address Suwon FC fans and thank them for their support.

Lee, 26, will be counted on to provide a much-needed jolt to Jeonbuk, the nine-time K League 1 champions trying desperately to move out of the relegation zone this season.

Jeonbuk are in 10th place with 23 points, only three points ahead of last-place Daejeon Hana Citizen in the 12-club tables. Jeonbuk and Daegu FC are tied in points, but Jeonbuk remain ahead thanks to their 29-23 edge in goals scored, the first tiebreaking category.

Jeonbuk have the league's worst goal difference at -14. While Lee won't solve their defensive woes, Jeonbuk will hope he can help them outscore problems in their own end.

"By adding Lee Seung-woo, we expect our attacking to start making creative plays," Jeonbuk said in a statement. "He will be a major piece of our offensive tactics going forward."

Lee signed for Suwon in December 2021, after a journeyman career in Europe that took him through Spain, Italy, Belgium and Portugal, with little success at each stop.

He made an immediate impact in 2022 by leading Suwon FC with 14 goals. He netted 10 goals last year to lead his club once again, and has reached double figures in goals for the third consecutive campaign this year.

Since the start of the 2022 season, Lee has netted the second-most goals in the K League 1 with 34, behind only Joo Min-kyu of Ulsan HD with 42. Wildly popular across the league, Lee topped the fan voting to make the starting lineup for Team K League, which will face Tottenham Hotspur in an exhibition match next Wednesday in Seoul.

"Jeonbuk are a great team, and I want to be the best player in Korea wearing the green shirt with this team," Lee said. "I know how enthusiastic Jeonbuk supporters are about their club. I want to ask fans to direct their passion toward me."

Yonhap