"Hey, I'll definitely raise him."
Yoon Do-young will officially join Brighton & Hove Albion as the transfer market opens on July 1, with a contract set until June 2030.
The Brighton club announced Yoon Do-young's signing through its official website and social media on the 21st (Korea time), stating, "We sincerely welcome his addition. We have high hopes for him as one of the most promising talents in Asia." Yoon Do-young will remain with Daejeon for the time being to finish the current season before heading to Europe in the summer.
David Weir, technical director of Brighton, stated, "Yoon Do-young is a versatile winger with both technical skills and energy," adding, "We will closely analyze his development potential and design a growth path through an appropriate loan club." In fact, the club plans for Yoon Do-young to spend his first season on loan, which is a typical strategy used by Premier League clubs to develop prospects.
Following this transfer, Yoon Do-young's market value has skyrocketed. According to football transfer market specialist Ben Jacobs, Brighton signed Yoon Do-young for approximately £2 million (around 37.9 billion won). This represents an increase of over 680% compared to his market value, which was only assessed at around €350,000 (about 550 million won) a few months ago. It is a remarkable increase in value close to 7 times in just one transfer.
This explosive rise is attributed not merely to expectations, but to Yoon Do-young's performance. He recorded 1 goal and 3 assists in 19 matches during the 2024 K League 1 season, leading the team in assists while also breaking the record for the youngest professional debut and scoring in the club's history.
Yoon Do-young made his debut at 17 years, 6 months, and 27 days old in the 14th round of the 2024 K League 1, and scored his debut goal in under a minute at the start of the 29th round. This sets the record for the youngest goal scorer in the K League 1 since the introduction of the promotion-relegation system. Additionally, he was selected as part of 'Team K League' for the Coupang Play Series against Tottenham, showcasing an impressive performance.
He also played a key role in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup, contributing decisively to Korea's qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. He participated in every match, recording 1 goal and 1 assist, leading the team to a third-place finish.
Yoon Do-young conveyed a heartfelt message, saying, "I am who I am today because of the team Daejeon, which I have been with since middle school. During the remaining time, I will contribute as much as possible to the team, and one day I will return as a player representing Daejeon."
Yoon Do-young is following a similar path as his close friend Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham, on loan at QPR). Both players, born in 2006, have signed contracts with Premier League teams Brighton and Tottenham, respectively, and are beginning their adaptation to the European stage through loan experiences. The possibility of them facing off in the Championship in the future adds excitement for fans.
Currently, the transfer fee is relatively low by Premier League standards, but if Yoon Do-young successfully settles in with his loan team and is officially promoted to the Brighton first team, his value is likely to increase significantly. Brighton is confident that Yoon Do-young can grow into a key player within five years.
Brighton is also known for player development. Unlike other teams, it has the expertise to systematically develop players brought directly from Asian leagues. Kaoru Mitoma, who is currently the ace of the Japanese national team, is a prime example.
This Brighton club has chosen Yoon Do-young as its next development target. Instead of hastily pushing him, Brighton is expected to provide ample experience and systematically help him adapt to the European stage through loans. It will be interesting to see how Yoon Do-young, chosen by the 'culture of development,' progresses as the next masterpiece.
[OSEN]