Cho Kyu-sung (25) is moving to Mittwalland in Denmark.

On the 9th, Jeonbuk Hyundai confirmed the transfer of Cho Kyu-sung through the club’s channel. The first post read, “Cho Kyu-sung ends his stay with Jeonbuk Hyundai. I hope he will continue to walk his own path as he is now, wherever he is, and I hope he can always be resolute in front of any challenge with the experiences and memories he has accumulated here. Thank you,” he wrote. Cho Kyu-sung wrote, “Thank you. Jeonbuk Hyundai chan.”

And in the second post, he wrote, “Please support Jo Kyu-sung’s new challenge even more hotly.” He responded with his signature ceremonial emoji and a green heart.

Cho Kyu-sung completed his departure through Incheon International Airport on the 9th and will now head to Meatwillan to complete his medical tests and signing.

Anyang→Jeonbuk→Kimcheon (military service)→Jeonbuk→World Cup

Cho Kyu-sung is a star born from the K League. He started with FC Anyang. He burst onto the scene in 2019 and played in the K League 2 with the number 9 shirt. He scored 14 goals and provided four assists, earning a spot in the season’s best 11.

The attention he received led to a move to Jeonbuk, one of the top clubs in the K League. However, his debut season didn’t live up to expectations. He finished with eight goals and three assists in 34 official matches and was sent to Gimcheon for military service.

He had an incredible season in 2022. After scoring 13 goals and providing four assists for Gimcheon in the K League 1, he returned to his original club, Jeonbuk, and scored four goals and provided one assist, bringing his tally to 17 goals and five assists. This earned him the top scorer and the league’s best eleven. He also won MVP and the FA Cup trophy.

His form continued at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. After making his A-match debut in September 2021, Cho became a regular fixture in the side, earning the trust of coach Paulo Bento. This earned him a place in the final World Cup squad and a regular role as a striker, with his multi-header performance against Ghana in the second round of the group stage making him a ‘big star’.

European offers, a transfer that didn’t happen in the winter

Cho received offers from several European clubs after the World Cup. Mainz in the Bundesliga and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership were two of them. First up were Mainz, who reportedly offered £2.5 million, according to the UK’s Evening Standard. Celtic then outbid Mainz, with some reports suggesting £2.7 million. “Celtic have made a £30m offer for the player’s services,” according to Sky Sports in the UK.

However, the “£3 million” mentioned by Sky Sports was a verbal offer, not a formal offer. At the time, an official from Cho Kyu-sung’s side said, “Celtic made an official offer last time, and this time it was a verbal offer. We asked Jeonbuk if they could accept the offer. They said that if Jeonbuk accepted, they would immediately make an official offer. Negotiations are continuing,” he explained.

There was also Minnesota United of the US Major League Soccer (MLS), but the deal fell through. Cho Kyu-sung decided to stay after talking to Jeonbuk. Jeonbuk promised to help him move to Europe in the summer transfer window.

Cho struggled in the 2023 season as he was sidelined with injuries. He has since bounced back with four goals in the K League 1 and two in the FA Cup. Including a goal against Suwon Samsung in the second round of the K League One, he has seven points in 14 games.

European interest continues, and the destination is Denmark’s ‘Mittwillan’

On the 5th, Mike McGrath of the UK’s Telegraph reported that “South Korean striker Cho Kyu-sung has received interest from the English Championship (second tier). Watford have held talks and there is interest from Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City. However, he signed for Danish side Midtjylland for a transfer fee of £2.6 million.”

And on the 6th, the UK’s Football Insider reported that “Leicester have failed in their bid for Jeonbuk Hyundai striker Cho Kyu-sung. Watford and Blackburn have also discussed signing him this summer. However, it was Mitwillan who won the battle for Cho’s signature with a £2.5 million deal. Mittwillan are in full agreement to finalise the deal soon,” the report said.

On the 8th, Cho Kyu-sung himself spoke out against FC Seoul. “People only believe what they see, and I don’t know why I’m being criticised so much. There is no such thing as Park giving me advice or anything like that. All the choices are mine to make. I don’t know what those choices will be yet. He’s just trying to figure out what the best option is for me, and he’s been there for me until the end. I’ll be able to say more about it when I have a clearer decision.”

“I don’t regret not going to Mainz or Celtic in the winter. I’ve never had a regret in my life. I take responsibility for that. I don’t listen to anyone telling me what to do. I go in the direction I choose,” he said.

Cho Kyu-sung said, “When I couldn’t transfer in the winter and many reporters came to Jeonbuk, I told them that I wanted to choose a club where I could play and be competitive, and how much the club wanted me was the second most important thing. I haven’t finished choosing yet, but I kept asking myself who wants me,” he said, explaining his criteria for choosing a team 토토꽁포인트.

We wish you success at #Midtjylland

Mittwylan was founded in 1999 and currently plays in the Danish Superliga (top division). Since the 2010s, the club has been a powerhouse. They won the league title in 2014-15, 2017-18, and 2019-20, and the Danish Cup in 2018-19 and 2021-22.

In 2022-23, they finished first in the lower division (13 wins, 12 draws and seven defeats) and booked their ticket to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) with a 1-0 win over fourth-placed Viborg in the top division. The league kicks off on the 22nd, with the first leg of the UECL second qualifying round on the 27th.

There’s not much time left before the official start. It is urgent for Cho Kyu-sung to improve his form and integrate into the team.

He just needs to prove that his choice was the right one.