English midfielder Jesse Lingard on brink of deal with K League's FC Seoul: Reports

Lingard’s signing would be a big move for FC Seoul and a potential sign of changes at the club after the K League side brought in manager Kim Gi-dong in December.

England's Jesse Lingard celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup 2022 Group I qualifying match between England and Andorra at Wembley in London on Sept. 5, 2021. [AP/YONHAP]

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard is close to completing a move to K League side FC Seoul, according to multiple reports.

According to Sky Sports News, Lingard verbally agreed to a two-year deal with a third-year option with the capital team and is set to travel to Korea in the coming days.

It would be a big win for FC Seoul, who ended an unimpressive 2023 K League season in seventh place on the 12-team table after blowing a strong start. Former manager An Ik-soo resigned in the middle of the season after the team went five straight games without a win.

And it’s a surprise move for the 31-year-old English footballer, who made nearly 150 appearances over a decade-long spell at Manchester United during which he scored 20 goals for the team.

He also spent time at West Ham on a loan, scoring nine goals over 16 appearances, and was reportedly training with his former club as a free agent last year but did not reach a deal.

In 2022, Lingard signed with Premier League side Nottingham Forest, where he briefly overlapped with now-suspended Korea striker Hwang Ui-jo, who joined the team in August that year but was immediately loaned out to Greek club Olympiacos — where he had a terrible run — and then, for five months at the start of 2023, FC Seoul.

Lingard has also notched plenty of caps for England, playing in the 2018 World Cup where the national team finished fourth — though he missed out on the 2022 squad in Doha, Qatar despite playing in qualifying rounds.

Lingard had been considering a move to Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al Ettifaq and an offer in Turkey, according to Sky Sports News, but those deals fell through.

Lingard’s signing would be a big move for FC Seoul and a potential sign of changes at the club after it brought in manager Kim Gi-dong in December.

Kim joined the capital side after managing a runner-up finish at the helm of the Pohang Steelers, fresh off a Korean FA Cup win in the fall.

The K League season kicks off on March 1.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]