Hundreds of fans greeted midfielder Jesse Lingard upon his arrival in Korea to seal his deal with FC Seoul.

The airport in Seoul welcomed Lingard on February 5. The English midfielder, who was dressed all in black, was more than happy to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and pose for photos.

Lingard was perplexed when presented with a danso, a traditional wind instrument primarily utilized in folk music of Korea, as they boarded the car to go to FC Seoul’s offices.

A two-year deal with FC Seoul is imminent, with an additional year on the table, as reported by The Standard, after Lingard has finished his medical check. When FC Seoul’s 2024 K-League 1 season kicks out on March 2 against Gwangju, the English midfielder will have plenty of time to adjust.

The 31-year-old midfielder has several goals in Korea, including a return to football and initiatives to “expand” into the esports, fashion, and restaurant industries. “One Touch Entertainment” is the nаme of Lingard’s apparel line, esports squad, and media conglomerate.

With the help of GS Group, FC Seoul has become one of the most renowned and prosperous clubs in K League 1. As far as Korean football brands go, FC Seoul was king in 2012. FC Seoul finished second in the AFC Champions League in 2001–2002 and 2013 and won K League 1 five times (1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012, and 2016).

Lingard was a product of Manchester United’s youth system and made the jump to the first team during the 2011–2012 campaign. However, this midfielder only appeared in 232 matches for Manchester United over the course of 11 years, with numerous loan spells, and scored 35 goals. After his deal with the “Red Devils” expired in the summer of 2022, Lingard signed with Nottingham Forest. However, he failed to make an impact, appearing in 20 appearances across all competitions and contributing just two goals and two assists. He departed Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 and hasn’t played since.

Lingard has been honing his strength training techniques in Dubai as of late. Although he did not officially sign a contract, the 31-year-old midfielder did participate in training sessions with Steven George Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq, a Saudi Arabian side.