Jesse Lingard says he hopes to “enjoy playing football again” after joining FC Seoul in South Korea’s K-League.
The former Manchester United midfielder went months without playing competitively after leaving Nottingham Forest last summer.
Lingard, who has 32 England caps, is now looking to restart his career in a new setting.
He said, “I’m very excited. “It’s a new challenge, but I’ve accepted it, I’m here, I’m ready to embrace the culture.
“It’s a new beginning for me, a new chapter in my career, and I just want to enjoy playing football again, putting a smile on people’s faces and showing the Korean fans what I can do.
“When FC Seoul came into the equation, the commitment that they showed, they flew to Manchester to watch me train.
“I got put through some tests, by the physios in Manchester, and they came with the contract on paper, so I think the commitment shown by the club really, in my mind, I had already made up where I wanted to go because, like I said, there [were] multiple offers but, it was all verbal offers and, the commitment shown by FC Seoul, showed 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.”
When asked how the discussions for his new contract went, Lingard, who had spent a long time looking for a new club, said: “I don’t think in football, anything is smooth really, negotiations take a lot of time.
“There’s a lot of people involved and, it can get messy but, I had the right team around me for this deal, and like I said, we thought to do the deal, we negotiated within, two, three days, everyone was happy with the deal.
“Now I’m finally signed and I can concentrate on football, I’m looking forward to getting back on a pitch and winning with FC Seoul, because I’m a winner, I’m a competitor, and I want to win a trophy while I’m here.”
On his physical condition, the 31-year-old added: “I’m not too far off of being match fit.
“I look after my body very well, I’m in the gym regular, I eat the right things, don’t drink so, I’m not too far off being match fit.
“I just want to get ready now and go meet the team in Japan, and we can start training.”
