Jesse Lingard has announced he will part ways with FC Seoul next week, bringing his two-year stint in South Korean football to an end. The 32-year-old midfielder, who made a surprise move to the K League in February last year, featured in more than 60 matches but leaves without having lifted a trophy.
Lingard’s final appearance for the club is set for December 10, when FC Seoul host Melbourne City in the AFC Champions League. While he gave no indication of his next destination, the club confirmed that he had expressed a desire to “move on to the next stage of his football career”.
The former Manchester United academy graduate spent 22 years at Old Trafford before his 2022 departure. Reflecting on his time in Seoul, Lingard described leaving at the end of his contract as a difficult choice.
“My time in South Korea has been unbelievable — the football, the atmosphere and the passion around this club have been top class,” he said in a message to fans. “The love, support and appreciation you have shown me over the past two years has been truly amazing.”
His early days in the K League were challenging, marked by public criticism from his coach and an injury that sidelined him for part of the first season. However, Lingard rebounded to become a key figure for FC Seoul, even wearing the captain’s armband and helping the club secure top-half league finishes in both campaigns.
“I want to thank FC Seoul, my team-mates, the staff and everyone associated with the club for trusting me and welcoming me from day one,” he added. “I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to play for such a massive club.”
In its statement, FC Seoul praised the former England international — capped 32 times — for the impact he made during his time in the K League, noting that he had become a symbolic figure both for the club and for the league as a whole.
