Life is full of surprises.
K League powerhouse FC Seoul has made a stunning acquisition by signing former England national team player and Premier League star Jesse Lingard.
It's reported to be a 2-year contract worth approximately 15 billion won.
There had been links between Lingard and FC Seoul since last week, and from the outset, I couldn't believe what I was reading.
It was unprecedented.
I don't follow the K League closely, so I wasn't aware, but there have been cases in the past of players with experience in top European leagues like the EPL joining the K League.
However, the current situation is different.
Jesse Lingard spent his youth career at Manchester United, one of the Big 6 clubs in the EPL, and made his senior debut there, spending a remarkable 10 years with the club despite occasional loan spells.
His most recent clubs include West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, both EPL teams.
Of course, while his time at Manchester United wasn't deemed entirely successful, and his last season with Nottingham Forest wasn't exceptional either.
Indeed, that's a fact he is a star player.
Jesse Lingard has had his moments, being selected for the England national team and even starting in some matches.
His every move, whether good or bad, tends to make headlines.
Usually, when such stars step down from the big stage, they tend to choose one of two paths.
South American or European players who have played in mid-tier or smaller leagues (such as Portugal, the Netherlands, or Turkey) often return to their hometown clubs where they grew up.
It's like a successful child returning home, which often makes for a heartwarming narrative in the twilight of their careers.
The another route is to opt for leagues with less competition but still offer decent salaries.
Examples include the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, the Chinese Super League (CSL), the J-League in Japan, and the Saudi Professional League, which gained attention this summer.
Indeed, the first option might not be feasible for Lingard given his background as a Manchester United player. Considering the intense competition at a club like Manchester United, where performance standards are high, it may not be a relaxed environment for Lingard, especially if his form is not at its peak.
It's quite surprising that Lingard chose the K League over the second way, more traditional options like MLS, the Chinese Super League, or the J League.
While the competition may be less intense in the K League compared to European leagues, the salary gap is likely substantial.
Despite South Korea's excellent urban infrastructure, adapting to life there shouldn't be too challenging for Lingard.
However, it's unrealistic to expect his salary in the K League to match what he earned in Europe.
Some British media may have underestimated the financial aspects of playing in South Korea, perhaps likening it to moves to countries like Saudi Arabia or Japan, but the reality is quite different.
There have been many speculations.
Among them, a strong possibility is the establishment of JLINGZ, Lingard's own brand, in Korea.
However, the actual reason behind his decision doesn't really matter.
The fact that he has come to the K League is a positive development from the league's perspective.
Previously, it was disappointing for the K League to see many superstars ending their careers in neighboring countries like the J League and the Chinese Super League.
The truth is, the K League hasn't had much appeal.
It couldn't match the salary levels, and among East Asian countries, only China and Japan were known to European and South American players.
Recently, even China isn't as popular a destination.
It's likely that Korea's recognition has increased significantly in the past few years.
So, what's good about a star coming to the K-League?
First of all, the popularity of the K-League increases domestically.
Even people who don't know much about soccer have heard the name Jesse Lingard.
That's the case with people around me.
When a player with this level of fame comes?
Even if someone didn't watch soccer, those who only watched overseas soccer would become interested in watching at least one K-League game.
A similar example is when Lee Seung-woo came to the K-League.
Although not a global star, his arrival at Suwon FC definitely caused a boom in the league overall, and the current popularity of the K-League owes much to that.
It also increases recognition overseas.
Overseas soccer fans who didn't even know where the J-League was became aware of Japan due to the transfers of Iniesta and Podolski, and consequently, they became aware of the J-League.
Lingard could indeed generate such effects, or rather, he is already doing so.
His transfer has been extensively covered by prominent English football news outlets like Sky Sports and BBC Sports, and discussions about the K-League and FC Seoul have been mentioned on broadcast panels.
If a positive image of the K-League is well established through this, it could lead to an increase in the number of superstar players following Lingard to the K-League in the future.
Consequently, the league's popularity could rise domestically and internationally, leading to increased revenue and higher player salaries, which in turn could attract more famous players.
This creates a cycle of growth and development for the league.
Improvement in the skill level of Korean football can also be expected.
Despite Lingard's form decline, there is no denying the gap in skill between the English Premier League (EPL) and the K-League.
Most K-League players do not have the opportunity to directly experience this difference.
Playing against players from the world's top leagues can be a valuable learning experience.
In fact, many Saudi Arabian players who faced the likes of Benzema, Kanté, Ronaldo, Mane, Neymar, and others who moved to Saudi Arabia recently have reportedly seen significant improvement in their skills, especially Saudi defenders who faced many attacking players.
Indeed, Lingard's transfer will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the K-League.
Even for someone like me who doesn't usually follow the K-League closely,
I'm considering attending a match to see Lingard play in person.
