Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has confirmed he will leave FC Seoul next week, bringing an end to his two-season stint in the K League.
Lingard, 32, made the unexpected move to South Korea in February 2024 and has since accumulated more than 60 appearances for the club, though his time in Seoul did not yield any major trophies. His final match will come against Melbourne City in the AFC Champions League on 10 December.
The England international has not yet revealed his next destination, though FC Seoul stated that Lingard had expressed a desire to pursue the “next stage of his football career.”
Lingard, who spent over two decades at Manchester United before departing in 2022, said the decision to leave was difficult but felt the time was right for a new challenge.
“My time in South Korea has been unbelievable – the football, the atmosphere and the passion around this club have been top class,” he wrote on social media. “The love and support you’ve shown me over the past two years has been truly amazing.”
Lingard’s tenure in Seoul began turbulently, marked by injuries and public criticism from his coach. However, he later re-established himself within the squad, eventually taking the captaincy and contributing to top-half finishes in both of his seasons with the club.
He expressed his gratitude to teammates, supporters, and staff:
“I want to thank FC Seoul, my teammates, and everyone associated with the club for trusting me and welcoming me from day one. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to play for such a massive club.”
FC Seoul released a statement praising Lingard’s impact, highlighting his influence both on and off the pitch:
“He generated an extraordinary level of public attention and became a symbolic figure not only for the club, but for the entire K League.”
As Lingard prepares for the next chapter of his career, his departure marks the end of one of the most high-profile international moves in recent K League history.
