Will European players follow suit in the second division?

Austria Vienna officially announced on the 27th (Korea time) through the club's website, "We have signed Lee Kang-hee. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder passed his medical TES on Thursday and transferred from Gyeongnam FC to Austria Vienna. Lee Kang-hee is expected to join team training this Friday. He signed a contract with the club until the summer of 2029."

Vienna introduced Lee Kang-hee, saying, "Lee Kang-hee played for Gyeongnam since the summer of 2023. This season, he participated in 15 out of 16 league matches, playing full-time for 90 minutes, and scored two goals. In 2024, he represented the South Korea U-23 national team in a total of seven matches and served as captain once during the Asian Cup."

Lee Kang-hee is a midfielder born in 2001. He joined Suwon Samsung prior to the 2020 season but rarely had opportunities to play. Lee Kang-hee's choice was a loan. He began gaining practical experience through a loan to Busan IPark in 2022 and joined Gyeongnam on loan in 2023, securing a starting position.

Lee Kang-hee's choice was the right one. He successfully completed a permanent transfer in July 2023, showing good performance not only as a defensive midfielder but also as a center-back. Recognized for his skills at Gyeongnam, he also played a crucial role for the Taegeuk Warriors during last year's U-23 Asian Cup.

Vienna captured the talent of Lee Kang-hee. Vienna quickly finalized Lee Kang-hee's transfer by offering a buyout amount. Vienna is also a team known for its connection with Korean players. In 2017, Lee Jin-hyun (Ulsan HD) joined Vienna and made his professional debut.

Vienna is one of the prestigious clubs representing Austria. It boasts the second-most league titles with 24 wins in the Austrian Bundesliga. It also holds the record for the most victories in the ÖFB Cup with 27 titles. Last season, it secured third place in the league, earning a ticket to the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification.

Now Vienna has high hopes for Lee Kang-hee. Manuel Ortlechner, the sports director, said, "We are very pleased to have signed Lee Kang-hee. He shows great potential both on and off the field, making him a perfect fit for our team." He added, "Lee Kang-hee has already demonstrated his potential as a youth international for South Korea. He particularly left a strong impression with his solid physique. We are truly happy to enlist Lee Kang-hee, a genuine team player, and hope he adapts quickly to help us achieve our goals."

Meanwhile, Lee Kang-hee has become the first player in Gyeongnam's history to successfully make a direct transfer to Europe. He said, "I'm happy to arrive in Austria and Vienna. I feel a bit nervous, but the desire for the European stage, which I have dreamed of since my teenage years, burns even brighter. My first goal is to quickly adapt to the team and secure playing time," adding, "The next goal is to acquire skills to compete at a higher level. Off the field, I want to better understand Europe's way of life and cultivate a professional mindset."

Lee Kang-hee also remarked, "European football boasts a high level in terms of tactics, fitness, and speed. I believe training and playing in this environment will enhance my capabilities. In particular, observing and learning from my teammates' game understanding, movements, and skills up close will be a great help. I hope to improve tactically while working collaboratively."

Following Lee Kang-hee, Park Seung-soo is also likely to make his mark on the European stage. Like Lee Kang-hee, who is from the Suwon youth system and has broken K League youngest record after record, Park Seung-soo is currently receiving love calls from Newcastle United, Bayern Munich, and Marseille simultaneously. With top European clubs offering similar conditions to the 18-year-old talent, the final choice rests on Park Seung-soo's judgment.

The frontrunner is Newcastle in the Premier League. Newcastle, which is challenging the Champions League, views Park Seung-soo as a key resource for their long-term plan and has initiated proactive recruitment efforts. According to 'Kurt Offside', Newcastle under manager Eddie Howe has reportedly provided a systematic roadmap for Park Seung-soo to settle into the Premier League.

However, big clubs like Bayern Munich and Marseille are also formidable competitors. Bayern, which boasts an elite development system in Europe, and Marseille, which can guarantee quick first-team opportunities, are each persuading Park Seung-soo by emphasizing their strengths. Attention from Korean football fans is focused on the next destination of the 10-year-old star, Park Seung-soo, who is being watched across Europe.

[Photo] Korea Professional Football League (KPFL), Austria Vienna social media.

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