Jesse Lingard in South Korea: Scoring Stunners, Closing His Brand, and Chatting with ChatGPT

Barcelona’s Asian tour has wrapped up its stop in South Korea, where the Catalans faced FC Seoul — currently fourth in the K League. The friendly turned into a goal-fest, with Barça winning 7–3.

Despite being the home side’s biggest star and captain, Jesse Lingard couldn’t get on the scoresheet this time. After the match, he still made headlines by exchanging shirts with 16‑year‑old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, creating a moment that quickly went viral.

Lingard’s move to Korea in March 2024 surprised many after he spent nearly a year out of football following his departure from Nottingham Forest. Since signing with FC Seoul, he has scored 13 goals across two seasons, including a recent long‑range top‑corner stunner that reminded fans of his Premier League days.

Off the pitch, things have been turbulent. Lingard officially shut down his clothing line JLingz Ltd, which had been operating at a loss since its launch 6.5 years ago, leaving around €320,000 in debt.

Still, the 31‑year‑old seems to enjoy life in Seoul — and online. Earlier this summer, he posted a playful Instagram story of his conversation with ChatGPT, calling the AI “stunning as always” and captioning it: “She really is the one.”

Even in Asia, Lingard remains a headline-maker — on the pitch, in business, and on social media.

Published by Patrick Jane
31.07.2025