Published : Aug. 23, 2012 - 20:08
As he poises to join the English Premier League, South Korean footballer Ki Sung-yueng said Thursday he is confident he will fit right in.
Reports out of Britain said Ki has agreed in principle to join Swansea City in Wales. Ki left South Korea Thursday for London, apparently to finalize his transfer from Celtic FC in Scotland, a transaction reportedly worth 5 million pounds.
“It’s an honor to play in such a world class league that I’ve only watched on television,” Ki told reporters at Incheon International Airport before boarding his flight. “The key is to make adjustments to my new environment as quickly as I can. If I can just play my game, I think I will have a good career there.”
Ki Sung-yueng speaks to the media at Incheon International Airport on Thursday.(Yonhap News)
After returning home following the London Olympics, where he helped South Korea win bronze, Ki did not join Celtic for the start of the Scottish season, while his agent worked on a transfer.
Ki fell short of saying he is about to join Swansea City, although a deal with the Welsh club appears as good as done.
In an interview earlier Thursday with Scotland STV, Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins said Ki was expected to travel to Wales to finalize the deal “in the next 48 hours.”
“We’re very excited of the prospect of signing Ki who will be a good addition to the squad,” Jenkins was quoted as saying.
Ki, 23, has been linked to other Premier League clubs over the summer, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.
If the deal is finalized, Ki would become the 10th South Korean to play in the Premier League.
Three South Koreans are currently playing at that level: Park Ji-sung with QPR, Park Chu-young with Arsenal and Ji Dong-won with Sunderland.
Swansea City finished 11th out of 20 teams in the English Premier League last season, its first following its promotion from the second-tier Football League Championship. (Yonhap News)