Who is Yang Min-Hyeok, Tottenham’s new Korean superstar?

There was, no doubt, some apprehension when getting on the plane. A few days ago, South Korean winger Yang Min-Hyeok left Seoul for London to join Tottenham Hotspur, where he will partner with fellow international Heung-Min Son. Spurs signed Yang on a contract until 2030 from Gangwon FC in July. The young player had, in fact, been on loan since last summer to his now ex-club.

In comments reported by Reuters And ESPNYang expressed his “anxiety» before his 14-hour flight. “ I am very happy to join the club. It’s an honor to play alongside Son, and I will always be grateful for this opportunity he told reporters at Incheon International Airport in Seoul. He added: “ I have already imagined this situation a thousand times. I can’t wait to be there, to show what I can do and to play alongside him in the same match “. Yang and the other big Korean football star, Son, have already crossed paths several times. In July, Yang faced Tottenham in a K League All-Star team friendly. Then, in September, he joined Son in the South Korean national team for World Cup qualifying, although he has yet to officially play a match.

A prodigy already recognized in South Korea

At just 17 years old, Yang Min-hyeok was already a rising star for Gangwon FC in South Korea’s top division. After joining the club in 2022 from Gangneung Jeil High School, he quickly stood out for his speed, dribbling and ability to play on both ends of the pitch. In 2023, he distinguished himself with the South Korean U17 team, notably during the Asian Cup where he led his team to the final. According to the magazine Opposite Skylight“ even if he didn’t blacken the stats sheet, he made an impression with his acceleration and dribbling “. These performances allowed Yang to gain an increasingly important place in the world of Korean football.

With his good performances, Yang Min-hyeok quickly received the trust of the president of Gangwon FC, Kim Byung-ji, who then offered him a semi-professional contract at the end of 2023. During an internship in Turkey, the ally had scored a goal and delivered an assist against Dynamo Moscow, which allowed him to quickly be adopted by the supporters. Opposite Skylight thus underlined that “ at the age of seventeen, Yang Min-hyeok had already taken the plunge “. The winger has quickly become one of the hottest players in the K League this season, with a total of 8 goals and 5 assists.

A golden future in England?

His rise to prominence culminated in July, when he officially signed with Tottenham, becoming the youngest South Korean to join the Premier League. This is, moreover, not the only record that Yang Min-hyeok has unlocked. The youngest scorer in the history of the K League, he was also named “young player of the month» five times, a league record. In an Ange Postecoglou squad ravaged by injuries, the young Korean could well carve out a place for himself more quickly than expected.

Ambitious, but realistic, he expressed his desire to quickly make an impact in the Premier League: “ I would like to take part in a match before the end of the season and hopefully score at least one goal or make an assist “. Regarding his current fitness, Yang Min-hyeok said: “ Right now I’m at around 80-90% » and said he was confident that his speed would be an asset in the Premier League. “ Personally, I feel ready. I will have a good performance there and I hope the fans continue to support me “. Let’s hope so.