Weekly Transfer Review (July 3 - July 9)

Week 2 of the K League summer transfer window can be summarized with another of Gangwon's mad spendings and surprising signings of players with international caps. Meet the new faces that will be the saviours for their teams. Well, hopefully. 

(image via gangwon-fc.com)

Classic

Gangwon FC spent another crazy transfer window with signings of three players for different positions; Gangwon announced the signings of French forward  Jonathan Nanizayamo, Korean international midfielder Han Kook-young and Brazilian defender Gerson (Gerson Guimarães Ferreira Júnior). Nanizayamo will begin his first challenge in Asia after spells in Spain and France including Real Sociedad B, Tours, Lens and Paris FC. Han Kook-young will be also having his debut season in Korea; since university, he has only played abroad at Japanese and Qatari clubs. Gerson will join Gangwon on a loan deal from Lechia Gdańsk (Poland) supposedly as a replacement for Valentinos Sielis, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Gwangju FC saw its name appear on various English-based sports media with the signing of Northern Irish striker Niall McGinn. The 29-year-old forward has previously played for Celtic, Brentford and Aberdeen before joining the Jeolla province club for his first taste of Asian football. With 50 international appearances, the experienced winger/striker decided to join Gwangju after talking with the director who came to Northern Ireland in person. McGinn will have to prove himself to save his club from relegation - Gwangju is currently in the bottom of the table.

(image via seongnamfc.com)

Challenge

Seongnam FC officially announced that Slovak forward Filip Hlohovský has joined the magpies. The 29-year-old technical forward reached the peak of his career at his homeland in the 2016-17 season with 20 goals and 17 assists, winning both the Top Scorer award and the Player of the Year award. Having won earned international caps this year for Slovakia, Hlohvský will now have a new mission of promoting his club back to the Classic. Another signing for Seongnam was Brazilian forward Dário (Dário Frederico da Silva). Having previously played in Brazil and Portuguese lower league, Dário impressed in Azerbaijani first division club Kapaz PFK before coming to Korea. Manager Park Kyung-hoon expects the two foreigner forwards will prove to be valuable assets for his club's promotion campaign.

(image via sportalkorea.mt.co.kr)

Rumours

Jeju United can suffer from additional huge losses after Marcelo Toscano moved to Japan; winger Hwang Il-su is reportedly set to leave the island club to join Chinese side Yanbian Fude. The agile 29-year-old , who previously played for Daegu FC and Sangju Sangmu (Army), has made his international debut recently. In addition, young midfielder Lee Chang-min is being watched by UAE side Al Wahda, according to UAE media Al Khaleej. The 23-year-old was included in the 2016 Olympics team and has been a vital player for Jeju so far.
On the other hand, Jeju will be able to fill up the losses with return of Ryu Seung-woo. South  Korean media Ilgan Sports reported on an exclusive that the 23-year-old versatile forward has decided to return to K League and is currently in negotiation with Jeju United. Ryu Seung-woo began his professional career by singing a contract with Jeju, but immediately joined German club Bayer Leverkusen on a loan deal. After permanently moving to Leverkusen, Ryu Seung-woo has played in second-division club Beielefield and Ferencvárosi(Hungary) on loan.

Once Hwang-Il su joins Yanbian Fude, Kim Seung-dae could return to his club Pohang Steelers. Sports Chosun revealed that Yanbian, which will have five foreign players in the current squad with the signing of Hwang Il-su, will release South Korean forward Kim Seung-dae. The 26-year-old has received offers from various clubs including Jeju, but is determined to return to his hometown club where he was born and raised. Kim Seung-dae was one of the most loved players at the Steelyard, having been a complete Pohang youth product starting from elementary school level.

League contender Jeonbuk Hyundai is finally on the move according to South Korean sports media Sportal Korea. The reigning Asian champion is chasing Tiago Alves, who has already impressed in K League with performances at Pohang and Seongnam. Tiago moved to Saudi Arabian giant Al Hilal in the summer of 2016, and has played at J League side Shimizu S-Pulse on a loan deal for the first half of 2017. Jeonbuk is reportedly aiming to bring the 24-year-old Brazilian on a six-month loan deal from Al Hilal.