National football team fullback Seol Young-woo (27, Red Star Belgrade) has caught the eye of English Championship powerhouse Sheffield United. After his stunning performance on the European stage, Sheffield, aiming to return to the Premier League, has sent a love call.
Serbian media 'Sportal' reported on the 12th (Korean time) that "FK Crvena zvezda may start the season without reliable defender Seol Young-woo. After being linked with Al Ain in the UAE last May, now English Sheffield United has entered the transfer race."
In fact, Sheffield finished 3rd in the English Championship (2nd division) last season but failed to get promoted after a dramatic loss to Sunderland in the playoff final. Aiming for a return to the Premier League after just one season, Sheffield has announced plans to strengthen their squad in this summer transfer market, with Seol Young-woo identified as an immediate asset.
Since joining Red Star Belgrade from K League's Ulsan HD in the summer of 2023, Seol Young-woo has quickly established himself as a starter. He contributed to winning both the league and Serbian Cup by scoring 6 goals and providing 8 assists in 43 official matches last season. He also proved his competitiveness with 3 assists in 10 UEFA Champions League matches. Notably, his versatility, being able to play as a fullback on both sides, excellent crossing ability, and active movement caught the attention of European clubs.
The European football transfer expert site 'Transfermarkt' values Seol Young-woo's current market price at 4.5 million euros (approximately 7.2 billion won). Considering that Red Star Belgrade paid 1.5 million euros (approximately 2.4 billion won) to Ulsan last year, this marks nearly a threefold increase in value within a year. The media noted that "Red Star Belgrade could change its stance if they receive a satisfactory offer."
However, the possibility of an immediate transfer is not high. Sportal said, "Red Star is not officially considering Seol Young-woo's transfer, and he himself stated that he has fully adapted to Coach Milojevic's system and does not intend to rush his career," while adding, "The situation in the transfer market can change at any time. If a transfer occurs, Red Star will earn a minimum of twice the revenue."
Born in 1998, Seol Young-woo recorded 8 goals and 14 assists in a total of 156 matches during his time at Ulsan, and he has also played 26 matches for the national team, being regarded as Korea's next-generation fullback. With a gold medal from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games securing military service benefits, there are no significant constraints in planning his career. While prestigious clubs such as Belgian Gent and UAE's Al Ain have shown interest, moving to the English stage could be another turning point for Seol Young-woo.
Interest is growing regarding whether Seol Young-woo, now in his second year in Europe, can break through to the English stage.
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