Give up a lucrative wage, Lingard in Korea: It feels like coming home

Transferred to K League 1's FC Seoul in February, 17 appearances this season with 3 goals, quickly adapting to Korean culture and language.

In February, Jesse Lingard, a former Premier League (EPL) player, transferred to K League 1's FC Seoul.

Jesse Lingard (32, FC Seoul), who once played in the English Premier League (EPL) and chose to move to Korea, has shared his honest thoughts about his life in Korea.

Lingard appeared on the tvN variety show 'You Quiz on the Block' on the 11th and said, "It's tough being away from my family, but the team has my back, allowing me to focus on football. I'm here to play football, and that's the most important thing."

Lingard started his football career at Manchester United, where Ji-sung Park played, and gained attention as a top prospect. During the early stages of his professional career, he gained experience on loan at clubs like Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Derby County, before showcasing his true potential from the 2015-2016 season.

He played in 40 matches across the league, cup competitions, and European tournaments, scoring 6 goals and providing 4 assists, gradually securing a spot in the starting lineup. In the 2017-2018 season, he scored 8 goals in the league, marking the peak of his career.

However, in the following seasons, his performance started to decline, and in the middle of the 2020-2021 season, he was loaned out to West Ham United. After returning to Manchester United in the 2021-2022 season, he played 22 matches but only managed 2 goals and 1 assist. He then transferred to Nottingham Forest but couldn't showcase his full ability and became a free agent (FA).

His high wages (300 million KRW) made a transfer difficult, and after considering several destinations, he chose Korea, donning the FC Seoul uniform in February.

Lingard said, "I wanted to keep playing regularly and continue playing football. (Korea) feels like home. Being happy is the most important thing, and that's why I'm here. It's tough being away from my family, but the team has been supporting me," expressing his affection for Korea and his team.

Now in his eighth month living in Korea, Lingard said, "I like the culture and the people here. Honestly, I feel like I've adapted quickly." He also shared that the first Korean word he learned was "진짜 (really)," saying, "I used it today, 'really good,' 'really hot.'"

He was especially impressed by the passion of Korean fans, saying, "I knew there were many Korean fans, but actually living here made me truly realize their popularity."

Recalling his arrival in Korea, Lingard said, "I was really happy. At first, I was surprised. I didn’t expect so many people. I wanted to take photos and sign autographs for all the fans, but there were just too many people."

Lingard is currently acting as the team's captain, replacing Sung-yueng Ki.