South Korean national team defender Lee Myung-jae (32) is leaving Birmingham City after four months.

Birmingham announced on the 20th (Korean time) through the club's website, "We have confirmed the retention and release list after the end of the 2024-2025 season. Lee Myung-jae and Grant Hanley, who joined the club last January, have been released due to contract expiration, and Luke Harris, Kieran Dowell, and Ben Davis have returned to their original teams after finishing their loan spells."

This marks a regrettable end to Lee Myung-jae's challenge at Birmingham. He donned the Birmingham uniform at the end of the winter transfer window. It was a short-term contract valid only until the end of this season. Lee Myung-jae could have transferred under much better conditions after his contract with former team Ulsan Hyundai expired, but he chose to pursue his first-ever opportunity in Europe.

It was a challenge decided in pursuit of a dream. Lee Myung-jae established himself as a top-tier left-back in the K League. He played a crucial role in Ulsan's three consecutive K League 1 championships from the 2022 season until last year, and in March of last year, he successfully made his debut in international matches. After Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the national team, took charge, Lee Myung-jae became a fixed starter.

However, it was different at Birmingham. As he transitioned to Europe in the offseason, Lee Myung-jae focused on conditioning and even played for the under-21 (U-21) team. Initially, it just seemed like simple adaptation, but as time passed, the atmosphere changed significantly. By March, he was not just absent from the Birmingham first team bench but also disappeared from U-21 matches. This led some to mock that it was the worst decision.

Locally in the U.K., there were predictions about Lee Myung-jae's release. Football League World reported last month, "Unless anything significant happens, Lee Myung-jae is set to leave St. Andrews (Birmingham's home ground)," adding, "Head coach Chris Davis is likely to remove Lee Myung-jae from the squad at the end of the season. Returning to his home country could be the perfect way for him to participate in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup with the South Korean national team."

Still, patience paid off with an opportunity. Birmingham secured the league title early, and in last month's match against Crawley Town, Lee Myung-jae made his European debut as a substitute in the 70th minute. He made a lasting impression in a short time and received positive feedback, and subsequently, he became a starter in the match against Stevenage, showing the potential of a late-blooming player in Europe.

Praise poured in for Lee Myung-jae. Birmingham Live predicted, "Lee Myung-jae drew attention as well. He now has a chance to secure a place in next season's Birmingham squad." Since Birmingham secured promotion to the Championship (second tier) by winning the English League One (third tier), it would be a good option for Lee Myung-jae if he could stay.

Coach Davis expressed satisfaction with Lee Myung-jae. He said, "He was extremely, extremely impressive," adding, "One of the best things I've done this season is bringing in players with excellent character. Even though he hasn't played much, Lee Myung-jae has shown great form in training. He is truly outstanding (super)."

This led to speculation that Birmingham might surprise Lee Myung-jae with a re-signing offer. Alex Deacon of Birmingham Mail stated, "Reinforcement is needed for the left-back position. It will take time until Lee Buchanan returns. If Lee Myung-jae is satisfied with a backup role, extending his contract would be reasonable."

However, Birmingham did not keep Lee Myung-jae. He leaves the team with his contract expiring, marking a bittersweet end to his first challenge in Europe. Now, Lee Myung-jae must once again decide his future as a free agent. Another South Korean national team midfielder, Baek Seung-ho, will remain at Birmingham as he still has time left on his contract.

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