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190320
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 10:21
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https://www.oananews.org//node/190320
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Ji Dong-won to become youngest S. Korean in EPL
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- Ji Dong-won, a 20-year-old forward, will become the youngest South Korean ever to join the English Premier League (EPL) when he becomes a member of Sunderland, his local club announced Wednesday.
In a statement, Chunnam Dragons of the K-League said the two teams have agreed in principle to transfer Ji to England. The player is expected to formally sign a contract later this month following a physical.
The Dragons said Ji will sign for three years, but said the teams agreed not to disclose other details of the deal.
Ji is the eighth South Korean to join the league based in England and the youngest by about a year. Last season, Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers were the only South Koreans still in England.
Ji is currently with the South Korean Olympic squad in Jordan for the second round of action in the regional Olympic qualifying tournament. The match is scheduled for Thursday and the Dragons said Ji will fly to England immediately afterward.
"I had the impression that Sunderland really wanted me," Ji told reporters in Amman. "I know there will be stiff competition for playing time, and my goal is to become the player that the team wants me to be in six months. I am also looking forward to playing against Ji-sung and Chung-yong, whom I both admire."
The shifty forward has six goals in 11 international matches, and was the runner-up for the K-League rookie of the year honors in 2010 after netting eight goals in 26 games
"Ji Dong-won's transfer will inevitably leave a big hole in our roster," the Dragons' statement read. "But for the sake of the player's future and for the development of Korean football, we decided to allow his move. We also tried our utmost best to find the most suitable team for the player."
Ji was first linked to Sunderland earlier this month, with another Premier League club, Newcastle United, and Dutch team PSV Eindhoven reportedly entering the bid.
Chunnam and Sunderland were said to be wrangling over the amount of transfer fee that the English team was to offer. Sunderland officials were quoted as saying in local media earlier this week that they wanted the Dragons to reach a decision quickly as they couldn't afford to sit idle.
Sources said the transfer fee ended up around 3.8 billion won (US$3.5 million). The South Koreans who have played in the EPL received between 1.1 billion won and 6.8 billion won in transfer fees.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
In a statement, Chunnam Dragons of the K-League said the two teams have agreed in principle to transfer Ji to England. The player is expected to formally sign a contract later this month following a physical.
The Dragons said Ji will sign for three years, but said the teams agreed not to disclose other details of the deal.
Ji is the eighth South Korean to join the league based in England and the youngest by about a year. Last season, Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers were the only South Koreans still in England.
Ji is currently with the South Korean Olympic squad in Jordan for the second round of action in the regional Olympic qualifying tournament. The match is scheduled for Thursday and the Dragons said Ji will fly to England immediately afterward.
"I had the impression that Sunderland really wanted me," Ji told reporters in Amman. "I know there will be stiff competition for playing time, and my goal is to become the player that the team wants me to be in six months. I am also looking forward to playing against Ji-sung and Chung-yong, whom I both admire."
The shifty forward has six goals in 11 international matches, and was the runner-up for the K-League rookie of the year honors in 2010 after netting eight goals in 26 games
"Ji Dong-won's transfer will inevitably leave a big hole in our roster," the Dragons' statement read. "But for the sake of the player's future and for the development of Korean football, we decided to allow his move. We also tried our utmost best to find the most suitable team for the player."
Ji was first linked to Sunderland earlier this month, with another Premier League club, Newcastle United, and Dutch team PSV Eindhoven reportedly entering the bid.
Chunnam and Sunderland were said to be wrangling over the amount of transfer fee that the English team was to offer. Sunderland officials were quoted as saying in local media earlier this week that they wanted the Dragons to reach a decision quickly as they couldn't afford to sit idle.
Sources said the transfer fee ended up around 3.8 billion won (US$3.5 million). The South Koreans who have played in the EPL received between 1.1 billion won and 6.8 billion won in transfer fees.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
