Breaking: Connor Chapman Signs for Daejeon Hana Citizen

Daejeon Hana Citizen have signed Connor Chapman from A-League side Western United for what is the club’s first major transfer of the Hana Finance Group era. The former Incheon United and Pohang Steelers central defender returns to K League 12 months after departing Pohang.


Daejeon Citizen have signed Connor Chapman from A-League side Western United for what is the club’s first major transfer of the Hana Finance Group era.

Connor Chapman began his career with Newcastle Jets and made his professional debut at the age of 17 in the 2011/2012 season. The following season Chapman’s form earned himself a spot in the U20 World Cup squad with Australia.

After spending three years with the New South Wales outfit, the 25 year-old departed for Melbourne City where the Sydney native began to establish himself. Whilst with the City Group owned Melbourne club, Chapman would win the FFA Cup and go on to receive further international honours with the Australia U23s.

A move to K League followed with Incheon United, where Chapman scored two goals in 27 appearances and helped the Durumi stave off the threat of relegation, eventually sealing safety with matches to spare.

Chapman’s impressive form and versatility caught the eye of Pohang Steelers manager Choi Soonho who moved quickly to secure his services. Whilst with the Steelers, Chapman was deployed in a screening midfield player role and was a huge part of Choi’s side finishing in the top half of the table after two years in the bottom half of the split.

In 2018, Chapman recorded four assists and ranked fifth in K League 1 for interceptions made with 211, joint third for shots blocked with 21, just three fewer than Park Jisoo, seventh overall for passes made, and 12th for passes into the final third.

So far in the 2019/2020 Hyundai A-League season, Chapman made eight starts and helped guide newly founded Western United into third place. During those eight appearances, Chapman has a 92% passing accuracy rate, 78% for long passes, has won more than 50% of his duels, and has made 39 interceptions.

More to follow.