*This content was translated by AI.
It was truly a sensational debut match. Lee Han-beom (24), who transferred to Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge, received high praise from both Belgian and European local media right from his first game.
On the 8th (Korean time), Lee started at center back in the opening match of Round 1 of the 2026–2027 Belgian Pro League against Kortrijk at Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge, Belgium. He played the full 90 minutes and led his team to a decisive 3-0 victory.
This overwhelming performance came just five days after he left Midtjylland (Denmark) on a three-year contract, having set a club record for defensive players with an €10.5 million transfer fee (approximately 171 billion won) on the 3rd — all achieved after only two training sessions with his new team.
European locals were equally stunned by this historic debut of a rookie defender. Belgian media outlet 'HLN' stated, "Lee Han-beom's debut was a huge success." They added, "He stepped onto the pitch after just two training sessions and dominated his opponents. Within 15 minutes of kickoff, chants of 'Lee! Lee! Lee!' echoing from the stands at Jan Breydel Stadium honored him by name. He showed remarkable heading ability by winning every aerial duel, exceptional speed, and excellent ball control."
The media continued, "Unlike Zaid Romero's struggling debut two years ago, Lee Han-beom started perfectly. In just one match, he completely won over the hearts of Club Brugge fans. The club's scouting team found the ideal replacement to fill the gap left by next-generation defender Joel Ordóñez, whose transfer was highly likely due to injury."
Club Brugge manager Ivan Leko also praised Lee in an interview: "I am very pleased with the debuts of both Lee Han-beom and Freddy Potts. Especially for Lee, making his debut in front of Club Brugge's notoriously demanding home fans is no easy feat, yet he received the highest praise."
Hans Vanaken, a former Belgian national team player and Club Brugge captain, also gave Lee his thumbs-up: "The performance Lee showed was unbelievable. He must have immediately recognized Lee's abilities after just two training sessions. His calmness in handling the ball during actual matches and his strength in never losing an aerial duel are tremendous assets for Club Brugge."
Danish media, which covered Lee's departure from Midtjylland, also highlighted his successful debut. Danish outlet 'Tipsbladet' reported, "Lee Han-beom, who transferred to Club Brugge after leaving Midtjylland, delivered a perfect debut in his first match and is receiving cloud-high praise locally in Belgium." They added, "Lee has fully adapted to the Club Brugge jersey within just one week and proven his value."
Having won over home fans from his debut match, Lee said in a post-match interview: "The fans chanting my name made me feel at home already. I was able to showcase my strengths in aerial duels and ball control well, and thanks to advice from my center-back partner Brandon Mechele, I felt more comfortable during the game."
He further stated his ambitions: "I will continue to improve my physical condition and match performance to prepare for tougher opponents ahead, including matches on the UEFA Champions League (UCL) stage."
During the match, Lee saved his team from a critical scoring crisis in the 5th minute of the first half by chasing down a shot from opposing striker Gouda Koyali-pu toward an empty goal and making a last-ditch tackle. Later, in the 23rd minute of the second half, he aggressively advanced into the opponent's territory to intercept the ball, setting up the stage for Carlos Fobba's decisive goal through effective pressing.
Football statistics platforms 'FootMob' and 'SofaScore' awarded Lee the highest combined rating of 8.6 and 8.9 points respectively, naming him the match's best player. Lee also recorded impressive stats: 146 ball touches, a 95% pass completion rate (122/128), 13 successful defensive actions, 8 clearances, and 6 header clearances.
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*This content was translated by AI.
