'From Lee Jung-hyo to Cha Du-ri': Hwaseong pushes to sign prolific striker Iluchenko... new variable in promotion race

*This content was translated by AI.

Experienced K-League veteran foreign striker Iluchenko may move from Suwon Samsung, led by coach Lee Jung-hyo, to Hwaseong FC under coach Cha Du-ri.

A soccer industry source told StarNews on the 24th, "While nothing has been officially decided yet, we understand that Hwaseong is pursuing the signing of Iluchenko."

Iluchenko, a German national born in 1990, has been active in the K-League for eight consecutive seasons from 2019 through this year. After spending his first two seasons with Pohang Steelers, he moved to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and then played for FC Seoul from 2022 to 2024.

Last year, he joined K League 2's Suwon Samsung. In his first season there, he scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 35 league matches during the 2025 season, demonstrating consistent goal-scoring ability.

However, this season he has struggled to break out of a slump. Despite appearing in 14 league matches, he managed only two goals and three assists. If his transfer to Hwaseong is finalized, it could provide an opportunity for a comeback in a new environment.

In its second year since establishment, Hwaseong has been making a fierce surge under the leadership of coach Cha Du-ri in K League 2. Through 17 rounds, they have recorded eight wins, four draws, and five losses, accumulating 28 points and sitting sixth in the league.

Depending on match results, they could catch up to fourth-place Suwon FC and fifth-place Seoul E-Land FC (both with 30 points). The gap to third-place Daegu FC (32 points) is also not significant, making a push for the upper ranks quite feasible.

Hwaseong previously went on an eight-match unbeaten streak, recording six wins and two draws from their April 11 match against Jeonnam Dragons through their May 31 game versus Gyeongnam FC.

The process of overcoming adversity was surprisingly solid for a team in its second year. Hwaseong lost 2-1 to Suwon on the 6th of last month, ending their unbeaten run, and then suffered an unexpected back-to-back loss after falling 2-1 to Paju Frontier on the 11th.

It was a situation where good momentum could have collapsed in an instant. However, Hwaseong turned things around with a dramatic late-game winner in their Korea Cup Round 2 match against Yangpyeong on the 15th, securing a 4-3 victory. They followed this up with a decisive 3-0 away win against Yongin FC on the 19th.

Nevertheless, coach Cha Du-ri has repeatedly emphasized the need for "scoring goals" throughout this season, stressing the attacking unit's finishing ability. Bringing in Iluchenko, who has proven his goal-scoring prowess in the K-League, is expected to provide significant strength to Hwaseong's attack.

Iluchenko's current team, Suwon under coach Lee Jung-hyo, sits second with 10 wins, three draws, and four losses, accumulating 33 points. They are closely chasing the top-ranked Busan IPark (36 points) in their bid for direct promotion. However, they cannot ignore the pursuit from teams below them.

The point gap between Suwon and Hwaseong is only five points. If Iluchenko's transfer to Hwaseong is finalized, it will become a new variable not just in his personal comeback but also in the intense K League 2 promotion race.

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*This content was translated by AI.