Eyebrows have been raised in South Korea ahead of the new K League 1 season start next month after the 31-year-old former William Beamont High School student was unveiled today by FC Seoul as their new attention-grabbing signing.
The Korean club’s chiefs claim the capture of the ex-England and Manchester United attacking midfielder on a two-year deal to be the biggest in the league’s history.
Longford-raised Lingard, who has a huge following in Asian countries following his exploits with United and will be considered a marketing dream to help drive the domestic competition to new heights, was a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.
He has been talking to the media about his surprise move to the Korean capital, where he will play home matches at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
“I have always wanted different challenges and to create new memories in my career,” said Lingard, who first played junior football on Warrington fields for Penketh United.
“I believe being in South Korea is the perfect place for that.”
Since a successful loan spell with West Ham in 2021, which is when he last represented his country, his career has dipped.
He made 17 appearances for Forest in their promoted season to the Premier League but his impact was not what he would have liked.
Being a big fish in what is a new pond for him in South Korea, with a fanatical and adoring fanbase, could be just what he needs at this time.
He added: “I’m really excited. I’m ready to embrace the culture it’s a new beginning for me, a new chapter in my career and I just want to enjoy playing football again, putting smiles on people’s faces and showing the Korean fans what I can do.”
Lingard confirmed he had received other offers but he was convinced by the way FC Seoul chiefs went about their approach.
“When FC Seoul came into the equation they showed commitment,” said Lingard.
“They flew to Manchester to watch me train, I got put through some tests and they came with the contract on paper.
“The commitment by FC Seoul made up my mind because they showed how much interest and how much they wanted me at the club, so it was only right for me to repay that.”
Lingard said he and his team flew to South Korea to conduct negotiations, which were completed in ‘two to three days’.
He added: “Now I’m finally signed I can concentrate on my football.”
Lingard is expected to meet his new teammates at their winter training base in Kagoshima.
If he was asked, it would have been difficult for him to imagine when he was a six-year-old practicing his skills with his grandad Kenny at Whitecross Community Centre that one day he would move to South Korea to ply his trade.
Not to mention the journey that got him there, via Manchester United, loan spells with Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Derby County, West Ham United and most recently that one-season dip with Forest.
In the early days, he was already training with Manchester United’s youth academy when he joined William Beamont in year seven.
He did play for the school football team in years eight and nine, when he was not busy with his United training, but it was clear from early on that he was destined for the top flight.
Honours achieved so far include winning the FA Cup in 2015/16 and the UEFA Europa League in 2016/17 with United.
, 2024-02-09 02:53:10 ,
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