Jesse Lingard, a former midfielder for Manchester United and England, signed a two-year contract with FC Seoul in South Korea on Thursday. The 31-year-old, who won the Europa League with United and qualified for the World Cup with England, is a free agent after departing Nottingham Forest at the end of the last campaign.
“I’ve always wanted different challenges and to create new memories in my career, and I believe being in South Korea is the perfect place for that,” Lingard said in a video released by the club.
Playing out of Seoul World Cup Stadium, FC Seoul is one of the K League’s most well-supported teams and has won the championship six times, most recently in 2016.
When Lingard landed earlier this week to finish up a medical and other formalities, more than 200 supporters waited at Incheon airport to welcome him.
I have received several offers since last summer,” Lingard added at a news conference in the South Korean capital on Thursday.
“Other clubs only made verbal offers. FC Seoul sent a written offer. Club officials showed their sincerity by coming to Manchester to check on my physical condition. At that time, I decided to sign with FC Seoul.”
FC Seoul kick off the new K League season away at Gwangju FC on March 2
