"For the first time ever, there were over 1,000 people."' 1,005 K-League Players Registered in 2026 Season

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Professional Football Federation announced on the 30th that a total of 1,005 players, including 1425 in the K-League and 580 in the K-League, were registered as a result of conducting regular player registration for a total of 10 weeks from January 16 to 26. This is the highest number of regular K-League players registered ever.

The total number of registered 1,005 is the sum of 1,001 players who have completed the registration process and 4 players who have completed the application for issuance of the International Transfer Confirmation (ITC) within the registration period. The main characteristics of this regular player registration are as follows.

■ Total registered players increased by 15 compared to the previous year... The increase in foreign players is noticeable

Regular registrations have been steadily increasing over the past three years, with 925 registered in 2023, 936 in 2024 and 990 in 2025, and 1005 in 2026, up 15 from the previous year, surpassing 1,000 for the first time ever.

Of the total registered players, 862 were domestic and 143 were foreign. Despite joining new K League 2 teams such as Gimhae, Yongin, and Paju, the number of domestic players decreased by 21 from the previous year, while the number of foreign players increased by 36. This seems to be a result of the impact of abolishing the foreign player holding limit.

■ The number of registered members of K League 1 and 2 teams is decreasing... 52 in Jeonbuk, 39 in Gyeongnam and Daegu

In both K League 1 and K League 2, the average number of registered players by club decreased compared to the previous year. The average number of registered players in 12 K League 1 clubs was 35.4, down about 5 from 40.3 last year, and 17 K League 2 clubs also averaged 34.1, down about 2 from 36.2 last year.

By club, Jeonbuk, the only team in K League 1 to participate in the K3 League, registered the most players with 52, followed by Gangwon (43) and Pohang (39). Gwangju, on the other hand, had the least number of people with 25.

In the K League 2, Gyeongnam and Daegu recorded the highest number of registrations with 39, followed by Suwon FC (38), Suwon, Seoul E-Land and Hwaseong (36 each). On the other hand, Busan, Seongnam, and Chungcheongbuk-do registered the smallest number of people at 30 each.

■ The average age is 26.5 years old in K-League, 26.1 years old in K-League... Gangwon, Seoul E, Ansan 'Youngest Team'

The average age of K-League players this year was 26.5 years old in K-League and 26.1 years old in K-League.

By club, K League 1 Gangwon was the youngest at 23.8 years old, while Seoul E-Land and Ansan recorded the lowest average age at 25 years old, respectively, in K League 2. On the other hand, K League 1 Daejeon (29.8 years old) and K League 2 Gimpo (28.2 years old) showed the highest average age.

The oldest players are K League 1 Pohang Shin Kwang-hoon and K League 2 Daegu Edgar, both of whom were 38 years old in 1987.

Except for semi-professional players, Jeju Yoo Seung-jae and Gangwon Lee Eun-ho were the youngest in K League 1 at 18 years old, while Seoul E-Land Ahn Ju-wan was the youngest in K League 1 and 2 at 16 years old in 2009.

Meanwhile, a total of 279 U22 players were registered, with 114 K League 1 players and 165 K League 2 players registered, down 85 from the previous year. This seems to be a trend coupled with changes in the U22-related system this season. By club, Jeonbuk (24 players) and Suwon (14 players) recorded the highest number of registrations, respectively.

■ 394 people from K League Youth... 6 'High School Student K Leaguers' registered

A total of 394 players from the K League Youth, including 178 from the K League and 216 from the K League, increased by 30 from the previous year. Among them, 15 out of 52 players in Jeonbuk were from their own youth, accounting for about 29%.

Along with the expansion of the youth system, "high school student K Leaguers" who can play in the K-League through semi-professional contracts are also steadily being produced. This year, a total of six people were registered, including Kim Ye-gun (Jeonbuk), Choi Joo-ho (Ulsan), Heo Jae-won (Jeju), Kim Ji-sung, Lee Joon-woo (Suwon FC), and Choi Joon-young (Suwon FC). Semi-professional players can sign up to five players per team every year even during the season.

In addition, seven players, including Kim Soo-hyung, Lee Hang-yeol, Han Seok-jin (Jeonbuk), Kim Yoon-ho (Gwangju), and Baek Kyung (Suwon FC), who played as semi-professional contract players last year, have registered as official professional players this year.

■ A total of 143 foreign players... Korean nationality is the most in Brazil in both K League 1 and 2

The total number of registered foreign players is 143, with 157 K-League players (average 5.2 players) and 86 K-League 2 players (average 5.1 players). Last year, there were a total of 107 K-League players with 156 K-League players (average 5.1 players) and 251 K-League players (3.6 players), especially in K-League 2.

Starting this year, the K-League abolished the limit on foreign player ownership, allowing clubs to register foreign players without a limit on the number of people. However, up to five players can register for K League 1 entries and play games, and up to four players in K League 2.

Among the foreign players in K League 1, Brazil had the largest number of nationalities with 24, followed by Spain, Japan, Portugal (three each), Montenegro, Sweden, Colombia, Croatia, and Poland (two each). K League 2 also had the largest number of Brazilian nationals with 41, followed by Portugal with 7 and Colombia with 4.

Meanwhile, after the deadline for regular player registration, additional player registration will be held for a total of six weeks from July 9 to August 19.

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*This content was translated by AI.