South Korea’s World Cup stars set for European exodus
South Korea’s 2026 World Cup defenders are at the center of a transfer frenzy, with Lee Han-beom drawing interest from Europe’s top leagues just months after starring in all three group-stage matches. French outlet Foot01 reported on July 15 that Olympique Lyonnais is finalizing a move for Stoke City’s Paik Jun-ho, while Lee Kang-in inches closer to Atlético Madrid and Hwang In-beom is wanted by Portugal’s FC Porto. The flurry of rumors has fans buzzing.
World Cup standing: 3rd (3 pts, 1W-0D-2L, recent form LLW).
Who’s going where? The key transfer targets
Paik Jun-ho(23·Stoke City) impressed in the Championship before the World Cup but missed the tournament through injury. Still, European scouts rate his talent highly, and now Lyon is closing in. Foot01 noted that Lyon’s pursuit of Paik is part of a wider summer push to bolster the attack.
Lee Han-beom(24·Midtjylland) has been linked with Liverpool, Leeds, Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton (England), Napoli (Italy) and Lyon, according to reports last month. Midtjylland sporting director Christian Bache Bach said: “Lee has performed well for us and interest from big clubs is natural.”
Lee Kang-in(25·PSG) is closing in on a move to Atlético Madrid, while Hwang In-beom(30·Feyenoord) is wanted by Porto. Seol Young-woo(28·Red Star) is again linked with Eintracht Frankfurt, with Serbian outlet Sport Klub reporting he could leave after the Champions League qualifiers.
How the World Cup became a stepping stone
The Taegeuk Warriors played every group game at the 2026 World Cup, with Lee Han-beom anchoring the backline alongside Kim Min-jae. Paik’s pre-tournament injury kept him off the pitch, but his reputation grew. Lee Kang-in starred as well, drawing admiring glances from Europe’s elite.
Recent form over five games: 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss (WWWLD).
What’s next for the Taegeuk Warriors?
Fans are buzzing at the prospect of their stars taking on bigger challenges in Europe. The coming weeks will show whether these rumored moves materialize before the transfer window slams shut.
Title race: six points behind leaders Mexico. Last result: South Korea 1-0 Ghana (Nov 18, 2025).
