Former England and Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard joined South Korea's FC Seoul on a two-year deal on Thursday, making him the most well-known foreign player ever signed by a K League club.
The 31-year-old, a World Cup semi-finalist with England and winner of the Europa League, League Cup and FA Cup with United, has been a free agent since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.
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“I always wanted different challenges and to create new memories in my career, and I think being in South Korea is the perfect place for that,” Lingard said in a video released by the club.
FC Seoul, which plays at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, is one of the best-supported clubs in the K League and has won the title six times, most recently in 2016.
More than 200 fans were at Incheon airport to greet Lingard when he landed to complete a medical examination and other paperwork earlier this week.
“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. The club officials showed their sincerity by coming to Manchester to check my physical condition. At that moment I decided to sign with FC Seoul.”
FC Seoul will start the new K League season at Gwangju FC's ground on March 2.
