A big striker with European experience makes the switch to the K League. Hong Yun-sang (21), a former Pohang Seonggol youth player, is returning to ‘Chinjeong’.
On the 10th, multiple sources familiar with the K League transfer market said, “Hong Yun-sang underwent a medical test to join the Pohang Steelers today. Currently, Pohang has many injuries in the offense. They need an offensive option to stay in the top tier of the K League 1. In that regard, Hong Yun-sang could be a perfect fit for coach Kim Ki-dong.”
A native of Jeju Island, Hong Yun-sang is a former Seonggol youth player who played for Pohang Iron and Steel, Pohang Iron and Steel, and Pohang Iron and Steel. In 2014, when he was in the fifth grade, he won the Cha Bum-geun Football Award, which was awarded to Park Ji-sung, Ki Sung-yong, Hwang Hee-chan, and others. In 2019, he participated in the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil. In 2020, he won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award and led Pohang to the title at the K League Under-18 Youth Championship. In March, Hong Yun-sang was named to the Olympic team led by Hwang Sun-hong and played in the U22 friendly at the Doha Cup. 메이저사이트
Hong Yun-sang, a highly touted attacking prospect in Korean soccer, was sent on loan to Wolfsburg in Germany shortly after graduating from Pohang Steel in 2021. There was a twist. Both youth and official matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Hong Yun-sang was highly regarded in his own training and practice matches. Wolfsburg were so impressed with his potential after watching him for half a season that they triggered his release clause that summer. He then went on loan to gain experience. Wolfsburg disbanded their B team (second team), but he spent time on loan at Austrian side St. Pölten, with whom they have a B team-style partnership. Last season, he returned to Germany to play on loan at Nurnberg, where he made 26 appearances and posted a respectable 7 goals and 9 assists.
However, Hong Yun-sang decided that it would be better for him to return to the K League as he would not be able to play in the Bundesliga, so he requested a return to Pohang. Despite being on the “injury ward,” Kim, whose team is currently ranked second in the K League 1, reportedly agreed to the request after hearing about Hong’s interest since his youth days.
Hong, who can play center-forward and wing-forward, is the same age as midfielder Kim Jun-ho, who has been proving his meteoric growth on the field this season. Kim Jun-ho said, “Yoon Sang-i has strange dribbling timing. Like his brother (Song) Min-gyu, he has a dribbling timing that is rare in Korea. He also has fast feet, running the 100 meters in 12 seconds.”