Eighteen-year-old South Korean forward Kim Ye-geon has signed a five-year contract with Serbian club Red Star Belgrade, taking the number 19 shirt.
European football has become the new frontier for one of South Korea’s brightest young talents. Red Star announced on its official website on the 25th (Korean time) that it had signed Kim Ye-geon to a five-year contract with the number 19 shirt.
The move marks a staggering acceleration for a player who began the season playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai’s youth team, Jeonju Yeongsaeng High School 3rd year. Kim made his senior K League 1 debut earlier this year, appearing in 8 matches and establishing himself as a rising name on domestic pitches.
Record-Breaking Domestic Impact and Youth Pedigree
Kim captured national attention on July 11 when he scored against Ulsan HD at the age of 17 years, 11 months, and 4 days. That maiden professional goal arrived in only his second professional match, helping propel him to be selected as the K League’s ‘Goal of the Month’ for July, setting a new record as the youngest winner in the category.
That scorching run of form convinced Jeonbuk to sign him to a professional contract on the 13th of last month. This is the first time Jeonbuk has signed a formal contract with a player while they are still in high school. Operating primarily as an attacking midfielder, while also being a resource capable of playing as a side attacker, Kim has built an international résumé through national youth setups.
His international journey started at the East Asian U-15 Championship in September 2023, followed by appearances at last year’s AFC U-17 Asian Cup and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Inside the Red Star Switch and Seol Young-woo’s Influence
The transition to Eastern Europe came together after consultations with a familiar face. Before finalizing the transfer, Kim spoke extensively with compatriot and Red Star wing-back Seol Young-woo, who offered a glowing endorsement of the club and its tactical setup.
Kim stated that older teammate Seol Young-woo recommended the transfer by telling him that Red Star is a great team and would suit his playing style.
The young attacker expressed his gratitude upon putting pen to paper in Belgrade, highlighting the welcoming approach shown by management throughout negotiations.
He expressed great honor in coming to Red Star and happiness at joining Serbia’s top club, adding that Red Star was the club that left the best impression on him during their discussions and that he believes Red Star’s playing style will suit him best.
He expressed his determination to pour everything into delivering his best performance.
What Lies Ahead in the Serbian SuperLiga
Kim steps into a European landscape where fellow South Korean defender Seol Young-woo has carved out a career, playing for Zvezda and appearing in 101 matches over 3 seasons, scoring 8 goals, while contributing to two consecutive league and Serbian Cup titles since 2024. While it was reported that Seol Young-woo’s transfer fee was a total contract of 5 million euros (8.9 billion won), including 4 million euros (6.5 billion won) and options of 1.5 million euros (2.4 billion won), to German side Augsburg — a club familiar to Korean fans where Koo Ja-cheol, Ji Dong-won, and Hong Jeong-ho have played — Kim arrives ready to absorb the rigorous physical demands of Serbian football.
Sporting the number 19, the teenage prodigy born in 2008, Kim Ye-geon, faces an immediate battle for minutes in a squad accustomed to continental competition. Having pledged to give his absolute best to repay the fans’ support, Kim’s immediate focus turns to adapting to European training sessions and earning his debut under Red Star’s technical staff.
