Former Manchester United star who once 'agreed' to join Newcastle United signs two-year deal

Former Manchester United and England star Jesse Lingard has completed his surprise move to South Korean side FC Seoul.

The 32-time capped Three Lions international had been without a club since being released by Nottingham Forest at the end of last season. Lingard trained at former club West Ham United last summer before failing to win a contract at Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq.

Nearly seven months on and Lingard is back in football after signing a two-year contract with FC Seoul, which includes an option of third year.

"I've always wanted different challenges and to create new memories in my career, and I believe being in South Korea is the perfect place for that," the 31-year-old said.

"I have received several offers since last summer," Lingard added at a news conference in the South Korean capital on Thursday.

"Other clubs only made verbal offers. FC Seoul sent a written offer. Club officials showed their sincerity by coming to Manchester to check on my physical condition. At that time, I decided to sign with FC Seoul."

After being let go by Man United, Lingard signed a lucrative one-year contract at Forest ahead of the 2022-23 campaign but the move failed to have the desired impact. Although the Reds retained their top-flight status, Lingard played little part having featured just 17 times in total.

Indeed Lingard’s career has stalled since a loan move to Newcastle United fell through. A deal between the Magpies and Lingard was agreed in January 2022 but Man United refused to sanction the move.

“I wanted to go on loan again in January because I wasn’t playing again,” Lingard told the Diary of a CEO podcast. “Newcastle was on the cards in January. The deal was done - everything - but the United squad was not big enough.

“A couple of players went out on loan and when it came to me, John Murtough [Manchester United director of football] rang me and was like, ‘no, you’re not going on loan.’ I was like, ‘he’s on loan. Let me go and enjoy my football. I’m not playing here so let me go on loan.

“I want to play football.’ He was like, ‘what do you want? Days off?’ I said, ‘no. I want to go play football.’ They stopped the loan, obviously I was p----d”

Lingard was frozen out by then manager Ralf Rangnick for the second half of that season. Newcastle retained an interest in the following transfer window but weren’t willing to meet the player’s reported £200,000-per-week wage demands.