Jesse Lingard expected in Korea for FC Seoul medical this week

Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard looks set to join K League 1 team FC Seoul.

Jesse Lingard, right, applauds fans with Cheikhou Kouyate after a Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion at The City Ground in Nottingham, England on April 26, 2023. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard looks set to join K League 1 team FC Seoul.

An FC Seoul official told Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo Friday that Lingard is finalizing a deal with the club, and will enter Korea soon for a medical. Further reports over the weekend suggest Lingard will arrive in Korea early this week.

The official also said that he will be the highest-paid player in the K League once he joins the capital side, with his salary said to be around 1.55 billion won ($1.15 million) per year.

British broadcaster Sky Sports also reported Friday that Lingard has verbally agreed a two-year deal with a third-year option.

Lingard, 31, has spent most of his career at United.

Lingard was on the books with United from 2011 through 2022 and made 232 appearances during which he recorded 35 goals and 21 goals.

Following his contract expiration with United in 2022, he signed with then-newly promoted Premier League club Nottingham Forest on a one-year deal, making 20 appearances for the club and scoring two goals.

After the expiration of his contract with Nottingham at the end of the 2022-23 season, he was without a club.

Lingard’s move to FC Seoul may be linked to Jlingz Esports, an Esports team he owns, and his interest in the Esports market in Korea.

If he joins FC Seoul, he could fill in the vacancy left by winger Na Sang-ho, who carried the team’s attack last season with 12 goals in 38 league matches. Na left the team last month to join Japanese team Machida Zelvia.

Lingard would be the seventh Englishman to play in Korea's K League, after Jordan Mutch (2019), Richard Offiong (2005), Chris Marsden (2004), Andy Cooke (2003-04), Jamie Cureton (2003) and Dalian Atkinson (2001).

The capital side spent an unimpressive season last year, with the team finishing in seventh-place on the 12-team table and failing to win any silverware.

FC Seoul will play their first league match of the season against Gwangju FC in Gwangju on March 2.

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