FC Seoul's Lee to join English Premier League club

SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean midfielder Lee Chung-yong will be joining
the English Premier League's Bolton, becoming the seventh and youngest Korean to
play in the top tier league, his local team said Friday.

"We have made a verbal agreement to transfer Lee to the English team. The
contract will be officially signed after a work permit is issued," FC Seoul said.
Lee, 21, will be transferred to Bolton for 2 million pounds (about US$3 million)
on a three-year contract and will receive about $1.2 million annually, the Seoul
team said.
In a recent interview with a local news outlet, Lee said he had "considered
transfer options several times," noting that despite the possibility that FC
Seoul could become No. 1 in Asia, he decided to join Bolton as "such chances
don't come often."
FC Seoul's decision has been viewed with surprise by local sports experts,
especially as the team is due to play Umm Salal of Qatar in the quarterfinals of
the AFC Champions League in September.
FC Seoul coach Senol Gunes had made optimal use of Lee and his team mate Ki
Sung-yong to bring success to the club.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)

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