'Korean 23-year-old National Team Star' to See Champions League Stage, 'Astronomical 1.68 Trillion Won' Korean Lion Chairman's Club Love Call: "Surprising Transfer Imminent"

*This content was translated by AI.

A South Korean national team midfielder has seized a golden opportunity to compete on Europe's top stage. The transfer of 23-year-old Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) to the prestigious French club Olympique Lyonnais is imminent.

British outlet 'Football League World' reported on the 17th (Korean time): "Stoke's key attacking asset, Bae Jun-ho, has been selected as a target by French giant Lyon with one year remaining on his contract. A surprising transfer is about to happen." The report added: "Through this summer's transfer market, Bae Jun-ho is expected to leave the English Championship (second division) and move to a stage where he can participate in next season's UEFA Champions League (UCL)."

The background behind Lyon's active pursuit of Bae Jun-ho lies in the alignment of his remaining contract period and his strong desire to transfer. French outlet 'Foot Mercato' and British outlet 'Inside Football' reported that Lyon has classified Bae Jun-ho as a cost-effective asset who can be acquired at a relatively low transfer fee to bolster its midfield, and has been actively pushing for direct acquisition. Bae Jun-ho is also known to have shown deep interest in moving to the French stage.

However, among local experts and fans, reactions to this transfer news include surprise. Ryan Beresford, a Stoke expert at 'Football League World', stated: "If Bae Jun-ho moves to the French league, he will be able to showcase his full abilities." He also argued: "Since there was some inconsistency in his performance at Stoke, news of him moving to a big club with a high chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League is unexpected."

He further added: "While it is difficult to say that Bae Jun-ho has perfectly adapted to the physical and fitness conditions unique to the English stage, if the club can secure an appropriate transfer fee and acquire new replacement assets, I fully support this transfer."

Bae Jun-ho recently proved his value by making the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup national team roster. However, he suffered a setback with an ankle injury during pre-tournament evaluation matches, preventing him from stepping onto the main tournament stage and leaving deep regret. Nevertheless, evaluations of his abilities on the European stage remain high.

Currently leading the effort to acquire Bae Jun-ho is Lyon, which is led by Korean asset holder Michelle Kang (Chairman), who holds a massive fortune estimated at 1.68 trillion won (approximately $1.2 billion) according to US outlet 'Forbes'. Born in Seoul, Michelle Kang (Chairman) originally operated Lyon's women's team (Féminin) and other entities, establishing herself as a major figure in women's football before officially taking over as owner of Lyon's men's team in June, gaining full control of the club.

Bae Jun-ho joined Stoke City in the summer of 2023 after transferring from Daejeon Hana Citizen for a fee of approximately 2 million pounds (about 3.6 billion won). Since then, he has made 134 career appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 14 assists, establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in the team. Last season, he played in 42 out of 46 league matches, earning recognition for his skills.

The possibility of advancing to the English Premier League (EPL) if he stays appears difficult. Stoke competed for automatic promotion at the start of the season but fell into severe slump after November, ultimately finishing 17th and ending the season in a prolonged period of stagnation without entering the league's upper ranks since 2016.

In contrast, Lyon has begun preparations for next season's competition for top league positions and qualification for the UEFA Europa League (UEL). Under the full financial support of club owner Michelle Kang, it appears that efforts to strengthen the squad, including the acquisition of Bae Jun-ho, are gaining momentum.

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*This content was translated by AI.