Mainz announced the signing of Hong Hyun-seok on Monday (Sept. 29). Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but local media reported that the player signed a four-year contract for a fee of €6 million (KRW 8.9 billion) and was given the number 14 shirt.

Hong joins Lee Jae-sung, a senior member of the national team, who has been playing for Mainz since August 2021. Lee has 17 goals and 12 assists in 99 games for Mainz. Both players are midfielders, so they will have to coexist and compete.

The Ulsan Hyundai High School product joined Ulsan Hyundai (now Ulsan HD) in 2018 and was soon loaned to German third division side Unterhaching to challenge for European honors. In July 2019, he joined FC Uniz in the Austrian second division, and in August 2020, he moved to LASK Linz in the Austrian first division. Since August 2022, he has played for KAA Ghent in the Belgian First Division.

In two seasons with Gent,

Hong scored 18 goals and provided 20 assists in 104 games. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, he won a gold medal as part of the Hwang Sun-Hong team. He also made his debut for the A national team that same year, playing 12 A matches.

Initially, it was reported that Hong would be heading to the Turkkiye League. However, 파워볼실시간 there was a disagreement during the last-minute details and Mainz came calling.

Mainz described Hong as “a technical and creative attacking midfielder” who would “fit right in with our team.”

“It’s been a dream to play in the Bundesliga, one of the biggest leagues in the world,” said Hong, who also spoke with Lee Jae-sung, ”and I’m looking forward to life in Mainz.”

Founded in 1905, Mainz is no stranger to Korean fans. Before Lee Jae-sung, Cha Doo-ri, Park Joo-ho, Koo Ja-cheol, and Ji Dong-won played for the club and were known as a friendly club. Last season, the team finished 13th with seven wins, 14 draws, and 13 losses.