Celtic are set to seal second South Korean signing this summer, with Kwon Hyeok-kyu joining for £1m
Celtic will seal their second South Korean signing this summer, with midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu confirming he will join Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops side in a £1 million deal
- Kwon Hyeok-kyu is set to join Scottish champions Celtic in a £1 million deal
- The defensive midfielder will be their second South Korean signing this summer
- Brendan Rodgers’ side have already agreed a £2.1 million deal for winger Yang Hyun-jun
Kwon Hyeok-kyu is set to become Celtic’s second South Korean signing this summer after his club, Busan IPark, confirmed he is close to leaving in a £1 million transfer.
The Scottish champions have already agreed a £2.1 million deal for winger Yang Hyun-jun, who said an emotional farewell to Gangwon as he awaits visa formalities and a medical.
Defensive midfielder Kwon has been followed by Celtic for the past year, and Sunday’s K-League 2 appearance against Seongnam is expected to be his last for his current employers.
Speaking before that game, Busan IPark manager Park Jin-seop said of the 22-year-old’s likely departure, “It’s a pity, but the player’s future comes first and growth comes first.”
Yang, meanwhile, revealed that he has taken advice from Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu about what lies ahead in Glasgow.
Kwon Hyeok-kyu joins Scottish champions Celtic, managed by Brendan Rodgers, for £1 million
The 6ft 3ins defensive midfielder has confirmed he is leaving South Korean side Busan IPark
He would become their second South Korean signing this summer after Yang Hyun-jun (above)
Yang said he spoke to Hoops striker Oh Hyeon-gyu (second right) before moving to Parkhead
The 21-year-old watched Gangwon’s weekend match with FC Seoul from the stands before bursting into tears as he waved goodbye to supporters.
Speaking to South Korean outlet Best Eleven, Yang also described his conversations with compatriot Oh as he looked forward to their upcoming pairing.
“I called two days ago,” he said. ‘He (Oh) also has regular contact.
“During the phone call, I asked what life was like. First of all, he told me that I should never be ignored. He said my teammates would recognize me if I came out strong.’
He insisted that he restart previously stalled English classes and also expressed his gratitude for the support he received in Gangwon.
Yang was at odds with the club after they initially refused to let him leave before the end of the K-League season in October.
However, a meeting with chief executive Kim Byeong-ji paved the way for him to become Brendan Rodgers’ third signing of the summer, following Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and Australian striker Marco Tilio.
“It’s strange,” Yang said. “I’m excited about a new challenge, but I’m sorry for the fans, because I’m not leaving after the season. But I will never forget what happened here. Thanks to you (fans) I was motivated.’