Yang Hyun-jun refuses to back down after Gangwon block Celtic move

Gangwon FC midfielder Yang Hyun-jun's dream of playing in Europe hit a roadblock when his club refused an offer from Scottish side Celtic. Yang says the club promised to support a move, even offering to give up his own salary to make it happen.

Gangwon FC's Yang Hyun-jun, left, dribbles the ball during a K League game against Suwon FC at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi on June 25. [YONHAP]

Yang Hyun-jun just wants to go to Europe.

The 21-year-old Gangwon FC midfielder has dreamt for years about playing in one of the big European leagues, following in the footsteps of Korean legends like Cha Bum-kun, Park Ji-sung and even Son Heung-min.

Those dreams appeared to come true this summer when Yang was targeted by Scottish Premiership side Celtic, offering him a chance to join another former K League star Oh Hyeon-gyu in Glasgow with the domestic treble winners.

Gangwon FC, however, flat out refused to entertain the offer. Yang says that breaks a promise the club made to him last year.

"When an offer came from the United States last season, the goal was to go to Europe," Yang told reporters after a game against Incheon United on Sunday.

"So I didn't go to America and stayed with the team. The club said they would actively help me when an offer came from a European club."

Celtic made an initial offer to Gangwon at the end of May, with the team looking to sign Yang to reinforce their winger position.

The Scottish team’s offer came after the 21-year-old displayed an impressive performance last season in the K League, managing eight goals and four assists for Gangwon. His main role at the club is to break through the defense.

Yang has repeatedly informed Gangwon that he wants to join Celtic since the offer came, according to his agent.

Celtic reportedly offered Gangwon 2.5 million euros (3.5 billion won) for Yang, but Gangwon have insisted that he is not for sale this summer as the team is currently struggling in the relegation zone in the K League.

A Gangwon official said during an interview with Yonhap on June 22 that club officials came to the conclusion that they cannot let him transfer when the club may face relegation, but they are considering allowing him to move in the winter as they should not hinder the player’s success.

Gangwon have managed two wins, seven draws and 11 losses in 20 league matches so far this season.

But regardless of Gangwon's struggles, Yang has been offered a potentially career-changing opportunity that he believes the club promised to support and he is not willing to go down without a fight.

He has even offered to put his own earnings on the line.

“I will give Gangwon my own salary if the transfer fee is not enough,” Yang said on Sunday. “I want to join Celtic this summer and I hope Gangwon allow the move.”

Yang has yet to have a chance to discuss the move with Gangwon president Kim Byung-ji, although both his agent and father have asked to meet with Kim several times.

“I will ask to meet with president Kim myself and get it sorted out this week,” Yang said. “I am a little frustrated because I heard Celtic are now looking for an alternative.”

If Yang does move to Celtic, he will be joining a squad stocked with players from the Asia-Pacific region as former manager Ange Postecoglou — who has now left to coach Tottenham Hotspur with Brendan Rogers taking the helm on June 19 — utilized his coaching experienced in Japan and Australia to recruit players.

By the end of the 2022-23 season, Celtic had seven players in the first team from the Asia-Pacific region — Kyogo Furuhashi, Yuki Kobayashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Tomoki Iwati from Japan, Oh and Aaron Mooy from Australia — as well as Japanese midfielder Yosuki Ideguchi currently out on loan.

All eight of those players joined Celtic during Postecoglou’s two years in charge.

Whether Gangwon will change their position on Yang before the summer transfer window closes at the end of August remains to be seen.

No Gangwon official has yet to comment on Yang’s move as of press time Tuesday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN AND JIM BULLEY [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]