Ex-Man Utd star Jesse Lingard reveals reasons behind ‘perfect’ move to South Korea

Jesse Lingard has revealed he wanted a ‘different challenge’ as he completed his move to FC Seoul.

The former Manchester United midfielder signed for the South Korean side on Thursday having joined on a free transfer after his contract at Nottingham Forest expired at the end of last season.

Lingard last played a competitive match in April and trained with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq last year as a move to Saudi Arabia seemed likely. However, when no transfer transpired, Lingard returned to the UK and has been posting videos of his personal training regime for several months.

But the 31-year-old’s transfer to Seoul ends months of speculation and Lingard has signing a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months, and will earn a reported £17,000 per week.

“My dream as a young child was to play in the Premier League and I have always worked hard to achieve that goal,” he said in a promotional video as the transfer was confirmed.

"I've always wanted a different challenge and to create new memories in my career. I believe South Korea is the perfect place for that."

Speaking separately in a press conference, Lingard said: "I had many offers, but when FC Seoul came to me, the commitment they showed, coming to Manchester to see me, sending me the contract on paper [not verbally], that commitment was the reason.”

The boyhood United fan made 232 appearances for the Red Devils and famously scored the winner in the 2016 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. Lingard also netted in the 2017 EFL Cup final, but his performance levels dropped considerably in the latter stages of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at the club.

A spell on loan at West Ham United reinvigorated the player with Lingard providing nine goals and five assists in 16 games for the Hammers. Yet that sort of form never materialised when he returned to United the following summer, and Lingard left at the end of the 2021/22 season.

He then signed a one-year deal at Forest and managed just 17 Premier League appearances before he departed the City Ground in July.