The former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard will depart South Korea in FC Seoul after their recent Asian champions league elite match with Melbourne City at Seoul world cup stadium. The club announced the news on Friday, which concluded the two seasons of Lingard with the K-League giants.
In early 2024, Lingard signed a two-year contract with FC Seoul having played a season with Nottingham Forest. There was also a possibility of a third season, yet the 32-year-old midfielder has been choosing to travel overseas and seek a new challenge. Although the club tried to keep Lingard, he stated that he wanted to leave and they both agreed on this.
In a press release, FC Seoul lauded the leadership and contribution that Lingard made to the club. He has not been just another foreign player, playing as our captain in the last two seasons and proving to be a great commitment to the club. The statement further stated that they would like to thank him as a player who represented FC Seoul and that they greatly appreciate his work.
In all competitions, Lingard appeared 66 times in the club, and he scored 18 goals. During his first season, he helped the team to complete fourth in the K-League and joined Elite of the renowned Asian champions league.
At present, FC Seoul is ranked as the fourth team in the ACL Elite Eastern League Phase, which comes after it won sixth place in the 2025 season. The club posted a goodbye message with Lingard, and on their official Instagram page, it stated that they were grateful to have him as a leader as well as on and off the pitch.
The exit of Lingard is the closure of an unforgettable period in the history of FC Seoul and the fans are now anticipating to find out where the veteran midfielder will take his career. Lingard is a potential market in Asian and European football markets due to his leadership attributes and experience of playing internationally.
