Former Manchester United and England international Jesse Lingard is set to become a free agent after mutually agreeing to the termination of his contract with South Korean club FC Seoul. The news, confirmed today, Friday, December 5, 2025, brings an end to the 32-year-old midfielder’s 21-month tenure in the K League, which was widely hailed as the biggest signing in the league’s history.
Lingard made the surprising move to South Korea in February 2024 following an exit from Nottingham Forest and, despite an initial adjustment period, quickly established himself as a prominent figure. He leaves FC Seoul having recorded a respectable 18 goals and 10 assists across 66 appearances, a period that saw him don the captain’s armband and win the K League’s Player of the Month award in July 2025.
In a statement, the club acknowledged they respected Lingard’s decision to leave, saying he conveyed a desire to “move on to the next stage of his football career.” FC Seoul praised the midfielder for being an “extraordinary symbolic figure” who significantly boosted the club’s and the league’s international profile. His final match is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th, in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Lingard now stands at a career crossroads once again, hitting the market just ahead of the January transfer window. Speculation is already rife that the attacking midfielder could explore opportunities in the Major League Soccer (MLS), the financially powerful Saudi Pro League, or potentially seek a sensational return to a club in Europe.
