Lee Dong-gyeong
Overview
Lee Dong-gyeong (born September 20, 1997) is a South Korean football player whose position is midfielder. He has played for K League 1's Ulsan HD, Germany's Bundesliga club Schalke 04, and Gimcheon Sangmu, and currently plays for Ulsan HD. Noted for his excellent passing ability and midfield control, he has also been selected for the South Korea national football team and is active.
Main Content
Youth and Professional Debut
Lee Dong-gyeong was born in Daegu and started playing football. He developed his skills at Hyeonpung Elementary School, Hyeonpung Middle School, and then at Pohang Steelers' youth team, Pohang Jecheol High School. Afterwards, he entered Hongik University and stood out on the college stage. In 2018, he joined Bucheon FC 1995 in K League 2, taking his first steps as a professional player.
Bucheon FC Period
At Bucheon FC, Lee Dong-gyeong quickly secured a starting position. In the 2018 season, he played 30 matches, recording 4 goals and 2 assists, growing into the team's key midfielder. In particular, his accurate long passes and work rate in midfield drew significant attention in K League 2.
Transfer to Ulsan HD and Prime
Ahead of the 2019 season, he transferred to Ulsan HD in K League 1. At Ulsan, Lee Dong-gyeong showed further development and established himself as a key player. In the 2019 season, he recorded 4 goals and 5 assists in 33 matches, contributing to the team's runner-up finish. In the 2020 season, he performed strongly with 6 goals and 2 assists in 27 matches. Notably, he delivered an impressive performance in the 2020 AFC Champions League, leading the team to the semifinals. In the 2021 season, he continued his consistent form with 4 goals and 4 assists in 34 matches.
Loan to Schalke 04 and European Challenge
In January 2022, Lee Dong-gyeong moved on loan to Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga. This was his first challenge on the European stage. At Schalke 04, he was mainly used as a substitute, playing 11 matches in the latter half of the 2021-22 season and recording 1 assist. Although Schalke 04 was promoted from the second division to the Bundesliga, Lee Dong-gyeong did not get many playing opportunities in the 2022-23 season either. Eventually, after the loan period ended, he returned to Ulsan.
Military Service at Gimcheon Sangmu
Ahead of the 2023 season, Lee Dong-gyeong enlisted in Gimcheon Sangmu to resolve his military service issue. At Gimcheon Sangmu, he served as captain and led the team. In the 2023 K League 2 season, he performed outstandingly with 8 goals and 6 assists in 30 matches, making a decisive contribution to the team's K League 2 championship and promotion to K League 1. His performance earned praise from many football fans.
Return to Ulsan and Present
Ahead of the 2024 season, Lee Dong-gyeong was discharged from the military and returned to Ulsan HD. After returning, he has consistently played as a starter, contributing to the team's K League 1 title race. As of the 2024 season, he has recorded 3 goals and 4 assists in 25 league matches.
National Team Career
Lee Dong-gyeong was first called up to the senior national team in October 2019 by coach Paulo Bento. He made his A-match debut on November 19, 2019, in a friendly match against Brazil. He has since been consistently selected for the national team. Although he was not included in the final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he joined the national team for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and played. To date, he has played 10 A-matches and scored 1 goal.
Playing Style
Lee Dong-gyeong's strength is his strong midfield control based on his 180cm physique. In particular, he excels at changing the direction of attacks with accurate long passes and switching passes, and he is also active in terms of work rate and defensive involvement in midfield. However, some evaluations suggest that his decision-making speed is somewhat slow in fast-paced matches.
Latest Trends
In the 2024-2025 season, Lee Dong-gyeong has firmly established himself as a key midfielder for Ulsan HD. He is leading the team's title race in the 2024 K League 1 season and has also delivered impressive performances in the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite. Notably, in October 2024, his midfield performance contributed to the team's 2-1 victory against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal. With the national team, he is solidifying his position by playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian second qualifying round. Recently, the possibility of his return to Europe has been consistently raised, and it is known that several European clubs are monitoring him.
Related Topics
- [[Ulsan HD]]
- [[South Korea national football team]]
- [[K League 1]]
- [[Gimcheon Sangmu]]
- [[Schalke 04]]
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