Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur has signed South Korean teenager Yang Min-hyuk, marking the latest addition of East Asian players to English soccer teams in 2024. This move reflects a growing trend among clubs seeking the next standout player from the region, inspired by Son Heung-min’s success.
Yang, an 18-year-old winger, becomes the youngest South Korean player to join a top-tier English club. He will officially join Tottenham in January after the conclusion of Gangwon FC’s season. Yang has made a significant impact in the K-League this season, with eight goals and four assists.
Yang expressed his excitement about the move, saying, “I’m moving abroad so adapting is very important. But there is Sonny (Heung-min) who will be a big help for my adapting process because we’re both Korean. Sonny is the captain of our national team and I’d say he had a big influence over my decision.”
Son Heung-min, who was the joint top scorer in the English Premier League in 2022, remains one of the most prominent Asian soccer stars. Other Asian players currently in the Premier League include South Korean Hwang Hee-chan, who has performed well at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma, who has impressed at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Simon Chadwick, professor of geopolitical economy and sport at SKEMA Business School in Paris, noted, “English clubs are traditionally conservative organizations, they don’t typically like to take risks but players such as Son and Mitoma have reassured prospective buyers that they are getting good deals. Son in particular combines high quality play and consistency of performance with a stable personality and commercial appeal, which Tottenham secured at a relatively low cost.”
The Japanese and Korean markets are seen as offering good value compared to the European transfer market. Yang’s transfer fee was reported to be $5 million, while Mitoma’s transfer cost Brighton just over $3 million.
Interest in East Asian players has extended to England’s second tier this year. Bristol City has signed Japanese winger Yu Hirakawa on loan from Machida Zelvia. South Korean forward Eom Ji-sung has joined Swansea City, while Bae Jun-ho moved to Stoke City in January and Paik Seung-ho signed with Birmingham City. Blackburn Rovers and Hull City are also reported to be interested in Japanese winger Yuki Ohashi and South Korean forward Song Min-kyu, respectively.
The presence of coaches familiar with Asian soccer, such as Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou, who previously worked in Japan and Scotland, contributes to this trend. Postecoglou expressed confidence in the quality of Japanese players, stating, “I really believe that Japan is producing some world-class players, who are already making their mark on the Premier League.” Tottenham recently defeated Japanese side Vissel Kobe 3-2 in an exhibition match, with Son Heung-min scoring a goal.
Tottenham is scheduled to face a K-League select XI in Seoul on Wednesday. Postecoglou acknowledged the impact of Korean players in Europe, adding, “I am well aware of the quality of the K-League. They’ve made a fantastic impact in Europe, a lot of Korean players, none bigger and none better than our own Sonny.”
