Bucheon, European center back Lee Ye-chan, who sent the signature hall, was recruited in full swing
Jan 15, 2025
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An official familiar with the K-League transfer market said "Bucheon succeeded in recruiting Lee Ye-chan, a defender who played for Portimonense in Portugal. It's a transfer after renting. Having completed all the details, Lee Ye-chan will join Thailand, Bucheon's winter camp." Lee Ye-chan, who started his professional career in Europe, will enter the K-League stage for the first time.
Lee Ye-chan is a young center back that Korean soccer expects. In the summer of 2023, when he was a high school senior, he attracted attention by moving to Portimonense, who was in the Portuguese first division at the time. It was a rare entry into Europe for a 'active high school student'. Unlike the cases of Son Heung-min and Nam Tae-hee, who moved to Europe through a project led by the Korea Football Association in the past, they succeeded in going to Europe amid the team's active love call.
Portimonense's scout came directly to Korea to inspect the amateur stage to observe Korea's young talent, and reportedly fell in love with Lee Ye-chan's noticeable play in the process. Portimonense watched the high school competition in person and focused on Lee Ye-chan. Portimonense, who had a relationship with South Korea by recruiting Lee Seung-woo, Park Ji-soo, and Kim Yong-hak, is a high school student, but he showed high expectations to give him a first-team contract, not a youth team or a B team contract.
Lee Ye-chan was a pearl in the soil. He had no experience of representing each age group. Lee Ye-chan grew remarkably after going to Yeongdeungpo Technical High School in Xinjiang. Lee Ye-chan is considered a next-generation defender with strength, speed, and skills. Lee Ye-chan, who also has interpersonal defense and defense coordination skills, has excellent build-up skills, which are especially important in modern soccer. He is not tall for the central defense at 1m84, but he is not pushed at the height with excellent jumping power and sense. K-League clubs have been courting Lee Ye-chan, but Lee Ye-chan has long chosen to go to Europe.
Lee Ye-chan played consistently for the Portimonense U-23 team. Lee Ye-chan, who made a soft landing by playing in six games and scoring one goal in his first season, played in seven games this season as well. In the meantime, he has also been named in the U-20 national team. As he had difficulty playing in the first team, he turned his attention to Korea. When young resources with European experience were put up for sale, many clubs showed interest.
Lee Ye-chan's choice was Bucheon. Bucheon, which sent its key defender, Seo Myung-kwan, to Ulsan HD, went out to find a defender and sent an active love call to Lee Ye-chan. K-League 1 teams also showed interest, but Lee Ye-chan chose to go to Bucheon believing in Lee Young-min, who discovered and nurtured defenders Kang Kang-bin (Seongnam) and Lee Dong-hee (Pohang), who succeeded in entering the K-League 1 through Bucheon. Coach Lee Young-min has a reputation as an expert in fostering prospects.
With the recruitment of Lee Ye-chan, Bucheon will fill the void in the signature hall with Lee Jae-won, who was brought from Cheonan City earlier. Coach Lee plans to set up a new defense team to try to promote the 2025 season.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
