A former Barca and Tottenham star in the K League... Even the first foreign goalkeeper in 27 years is 'an all-time change'

*This content was translated by AI.

In the 2026 season, the K-League is being shaken by the addition of new foreigners along with drastic changes in the system, such as abolishing the limit on foreign player ownership and allowing foreign goalkeeper registration.

The Korea Professional Football Federation released a list of new foreign players to watch this season in a press release on the 24th.

Starting this season, the K-League will be able to register foreign players without a limit on the number of players. The number of participants in the game at the same time is up to 15 in the K-League and 24 in the K-League. In particular, the landscape in front of the goal is expected to change as the ban on foreign goalkeeper registration has been abolished for the first time in 27 years since 1999.

A large number of resources from Europe's prestigious youth have joined. FC Seoul has hired center back Ross from FC Barcelona La Masia. Ross, who grew up with Baek Seung-ho and Lee Seung-woo, is the second Spanish player in the history of the Seoul club, and his strengths are the rear build-up and the use of both feet.

Incheon, which returned to K League 1, strengthened its midfield by recruiting Iker Unda Barrena from Athletic Clube Youth, and built a defense by recruiting center back Juan Ibiza from Villarreal Youth on a one-year loan. Paju, a new K League 2 team, attracted attention by recruiting Luke Amos from Tottenham Hotspur Academy. Luke Amos is a former England Under-18 national team veteran who played for Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers.

Brazilian players are still strong. Anyang recruited Ayrton and 189cm tall striker Elkurano to fill the gap between Mota and Yago. Suwon FC, which has been relegated to the K League 2, will seek another leap forward by recruiting multi-midfielder Frizo and 191cm tall Matheus Bobby, who played in Portugal and Uruguay. In addition, Patrick of Bucheon, Bazio of Gimhae, Lukong of Gyeongnam, and Angelotti of Seongnam joined.

The most talked-about part is the first foreign goalkeeper in 27 years. Yongin, a new K-League 2 team, selected Novo from Portugal. Novo is expected to contribute to the rear build-up with his control of the air ball and sophisticated kick ability using his 192cm height.

Players of various nationalities also take the K-League stage. Abudala, the first Israeli national player in the K-League, joined Gangwon, and Jeju recruited Lithuanian national target striker Gitis. South Jeolla Province recruited Martinique national team Corinus, while North Chungcheong Province recruited Garcia and Bolivian national team Enzo, who were representatives of Colombia's age group, respectively. In particular, Enzo showed enthusiasm to join the team training by refusing to run for the national team.

In addition, Seoul reinforced its power by recruiting midfielder Babets, a former Croatian national team representative, Incheon recruited Guyana national team Ferrier, and Gyeongnam recruited Nigerian winger Chi.

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*This content was translated by AI.