Korean Media: Lee Yeonggeun Transfers to Swiss Club Grasshoppers; Korean European-Based Squad to Surpass 30 Players

According to Xports, a Korean media outlet, another Korean forward has joined the ranks of players plying their trade in Europe. Rising star Lee Yeonggeun has officially signed with Swiss club Grasshoppers FC. The 21-year-old player helped the Korean team reach the semi-finals at last year’s U-20 World Cup and has also been active with the U-23 national team.

Grasshoppers FC announced on the morning of July 30th, “The Grasshoppers are delighted to have signed forward Lee Yeonggeun from Suwon FC. The 21-year-old South Korean player has signed a contract that runs until 2028. Lee Yeonggeun recently showcased his abilities during his loan spell at Gwangju FC in the K League. He also has international experience with the South Korean U19, U20, and U23 teams. He possesses a tall stature.”

In the recent U-23 Asian Cup, which also served as the Asian qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lee Yeonggeun scored the decisive header against the United Arab Emirates in the first round of the group stage. In the second round match against China, he scored twice, becoming the savior of the team. Unfortunately, he was sent off during the game against Indonesia.

Due to his outstanding performances for both his club and youth national teams, Lee Yeonggeun attracted interest from several overseas clubs. Some clubs in the German second division also showed interest in him, but he ultimately chose the Swiss club Grasshoppers. Korean media believes that if Lee Yeonggeun can demonstrate good form at Grasshoppers, he will have the opportunity to move to a bigger stage in the future.

Sporting Director Stefan Schwarz stated through the club, “Lee Yeonggeun fits our requirements perfectly. He brings a different dimension to the game. He is a young player full of potential who has already achieved results. We are very happy that Lee Yeonggeun has chosen to join Grasshoppers.”

Korean media highlights that with the summer transfer window, following the moves of Seol Youngwoo to Red Star Belgrade and Yang Mingyeop to Tottenham Hotspur, Korean football is about to enter an era where more than 30 players will be based in Europe. This is undoubtedly good news for Korean football, which is looking to enhance its competitiveness ahead of the 2026 World Cup.