Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom will join Canadian outfit Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), his current club announced Thursday.
Daejeon Citizen FC said they reached an agreement with the Whitecaps on Hwang's transfer. The K League 2 club didn't disclose the details of the transfer deal, but according to the Whitecaps, Hwang has agreed to a two-year contract through 2020, with club options for 2021 and 2022.
It was reported that Hwang was also wanted by German clubs, but Daejeon said they decided to go with the Whitecaps, who offered the best deal to the player.
"With the Korean community in Vancouver, the Whitecaps showed their intention to help Hwang adjust well in his first overseas stint," Daejeon said. "The Whitecaps also explained their vision and promised to support the player when he wants to play in Europe in the future."
Hwang will be the second South Korean to play for the Whitecaps, after Lee Young-pyo had a two-year spell from 2012.
A skillful playmaker, Hwang made his pro debut with Daejeon in 2015. Over the last five seasons, he collected 16 goals and 13 assists in 106 league matches.
Hwang has been considered a new midfield engine for South Korea. The 22-year-old earned his first senior national team call up on Sept. 7, 2018, just days after he helped the under-23 side claim the gold medal at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.
At the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where South Korea suffered a quarterfinal exit, Hwang took over veteran Ki Sung-yueng's position after the Newcastle United midfielder went down with a hamstring injury.
Hwang has played every match under new national team head coach Paulo Bento, who took over the helm in August 2018. He has one goal in 12 international appearances.(Yonhap)