Lingard completes shock switch to K League side FC Seoul

Jesse Lingard cannot wait to get back on the pitch after joining FC Seoul as a free agent. 

The former Manchester United and England ace, 31, has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in May 2023. 

And he is delighted to have been handed the opportunity to kick-start his career in South Korea's K League. 

Speaking at a press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Lingard said: "I'm very excited. It's a new challenge. 

"I'm here and I'm ready to embrace the culture. It's a new beginning for me, a new chapter in my career. 

"I just want to enjoy playing football again, putting a smile on people's faces and showing Korean fans what I can do."

Lingard's future had been the subject of much speculation and the attacking midfielder revealed he had not been short of verbal offers. 

He said: "Over the summer, I had multiple offers. When FC Seoul came into the equation, the commitment they showed, they came with the contract on paper. 

"I had already made up mind where I wanted to go because, as I say, I had multiple offers — they were all verbal offers. 

"The commitment shown by FC Seoul displayed how much interest and how much they wanted me at the club, so it was only right for me to repay that and come to the club.

"Negotiations take a lot of time, there's a lot of people that become involved and it can get messy. But I had the right team around me at the time of this deal and we negotiated it within two or three days. 

"Everyone was happy with the deal and now I've finally signed I can concentrate on my football. 

"I'm looking forward to getting back on the pitch and winning with FC Seoul because I'm a winner, I'm a competitor and I want to win trophies while I'm here."

Writing on Instagram, Lingard added: "New beginnings. So excited to finally get back on the pitch and do what I love the most. 

"I'm so grateful for the love and support in Korea."