Jesse Lingard saw his contract with FC Seoul mutually terminated after the South Korean club made it clear the former Manchester United player wanted to “move on”.
Jesse Lingard will leave FC Seoul in two years after his contract has been mutually terminated, as the club claims he has “expressed his desire to progress to the next stage of his football career”.
Lingard surprised many a few years ago when he opted to move to South Korea in search of a new club. In February 2024, he moved to the K League club on a free transfer, appearing in 66 games and scoring 18 goals.
His last game was Wednesday’s AFC Champions League match against Melbourne City, and the former England international got off to a difficult start but performed well after being called up by the manager before being named captain.
Lingard was the biggest name in his trade in the country, with FC Seoul giving glowing praise that he had “attracted an extraordinary level of public attention and emerged as an iconic figure”.
The former Manchester United star said on Instagram: “My time in South Korea was incredible. The football, the atmosphere and the passion at this club were top class. The love, support and appreciation you all have shown me over the last two years has been incredible. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to play for such a huge club.”
read more: Enzo Maresca criticizes Chelsea star for unprovoked jab at press conferenceread more: Liverpool manager Arne Slott says Mo Salah ‘deserves it’ as Saudi Arabia transfer talks get into full swing
After a disastrous defeat at his last club in England, Nottingham Forest, he is yet to decide where he will play next. He moved to the City Ground on a big salary after promotion, but he hasn’t been able to enjoy the best form in recent years on loan at West Ham.
After Lingard returned from the Hammers, I thought he would be able to do more in Manchester, but he became a peripheral figure. He left Old Trafford when his contract expired and has not played for England since 2021, spending several months without the club before landing in South Korea.
Lingard has interests outside of football and has previously started a clothing brand, but he has come under fire as a former United player who endured being dropped by the player who scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final almost 10 years ago.
Roy Keane previously said: “People say you should do something other than football, but I don’t think you should. Football should be your first priority. Focus on the game. Don’t hide behind your car, your tattoos, your girlfriend or your agent. If you play the game, you’ll be able to do all those things when you retire.”
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive daily Mirror Football content. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts
£49
£35
sky
Get the deal here
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.
