Despite not scoring or assisting, Jesse Lingard continues to make waves in the South Korean football scene due to his off-field stories.
Recently, a South Korean social media influencer with the Instagram handle @xxapplee_kr shared a screenshot of a conversation where midfielder Jesse Lingard initiated contact. Alongside expressing gratitude to the former Manchester United star, she exclaimed, “Wow, I’m a huge fan of Jesse Lingard. He liked my photo and messaged me. It’s such an honor!”
It’s worth noting that this influencer previously worked in banking before transitioning to becoming a YouTuber. Standing at 1.73 meters tall with a well-proportioned figure, she’s garnered comparisons to American TV personality Kim Kardashian, particularly for her prominent “curves.” Currently, her social media platforms boast nearly 500,000 followers.
In February 2024, Lingard unexpectedly signed a two-year contract with FC Seoul, a club in the South Korean top-flight league, the K-League 1. Since then, the 31-year-old star has played two matches for his new team, both as a substitute against Gwangju (a 0-2 defeat) and Incheon (a 0-0 draw) in the K-League 1.
Despite not making a significant impact on the pitch, Lingard has sparked unprecedented fervor. According to The Athletic, tickets for Lingard’s debut match for FC Seoul against Gwangju sold out in just 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Ahead of his first home match at Seoul World Cup Stadium against Incheon, FC Seoul fans queued for 4 hours to purchase the number 10 jersey of the former Manchester United player.
Statistics reveal that attendance at FC Seoul matches has doubled compared to the previous season. Moreover, FC Seoul has experienced a surge in social media growth, becoming the first South Korean club with over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Sports journalist Lee Sung Mo described Lingard’s signing with FC Seoul as “the biggest deal in K-League history.” Speaking to the media, Lingard disclosed that he turned down offers from 26 clubs worldwide before agreeing to join FC Seoul.
Reportedly, Lingard’s salary amounts to around £910,000 per year (£17,500 per week). While this figure is significantly less than what he earned during his time in England (reportedly £100,000 per week at Manchester United and £180,000 per week at Nottingham Forest), it still positions him as the highest-paid player in the K-League.
Additionally, the former England international earns from various other sources, including owning a chain of fried chicken restaurants and his own clothing brand.