Fulham FC's new signing Seol Ki-hyeon poses with his new uniform Saturday at Craven Cottage, the home field to the team. / Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter

South Korean international Seol Ki-hyeon has found his new nest in Fulham FC.

``Reading Football Club have completed the signing of Liam Rosenior from Fulham, while Seol has moved in the opposite direction to Craven Cottage," Seol's former team Reading FC said on its Web site Friday. "The terms of both deals are undisclosed.''

Leaving the Royals where the 28-year-old winger started his English Premier League (EPL) career last season after joining them from the Wolverhampton Wanderers in July, 2006 and scoring four goals in 34 games last season, he will continue his Premiership career with the Cottagers.

``Individually, I like Fulham. I have decided to move because I think I can get high marks here. I want to focus on getting players to have chances,'' said Seol, who saw his new team force a dramatic 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage, the home field to Fulham FC.

``I am comfortable at wing position because I have played so far, but since the team is more important, regardless of where I am assigned, I will do my best once I can get on the pitch.''

Fulham, founded in 1879, is the oldest football club in the Premier League and has become friendly to Korean football fans because of its efforts to recruit Lee Chun-soo, who signed with Feyenoord Rotterdam of the Netherlands Friday.

The club joined the big leagues in 2001 and has remained without any relagation.

It has never lifted the league trophy and was ranked 16th last season after going 8-15 with 15 ties.

This season, the London-based team has won one game, while losing three times to come in 19th.

Frenchman Diomansy Kamara and American Brian McBride fill Fulham's forward line and the Korean midfielder is expected to take the spot of Senegalese Papa Bouba Diop, who has transferred to Portsmouth recently.

However, it will take time for Seol, who hurt his back, to return to the ground. He plans to rehabilitate until the injury gets better.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez expressed satisfaction on Seol's arrival to his team.

``Seol has many of the attributes that I look for in a player; he is strong and tenacious and is prepared to work hard to create opportunities for himself and the team. He is very good in the air, but he will also close down opposition defenders,'' said the 47-year-old boss, who took the reign of the team on May 11.

``He can play as a striker but also has the ability to pose a threat on both sides of our midfield, which offers depth and dimension to the squad. I believe he will be a great addition to our combined attacking effort, and have no doubts of his capabilities following his fantastic performances for Reading last season.''

ksw@koreatimes.co.kr