A flight to the U.S. is delayed by a day...Oh Hyun-kyu's surprise transfer to Stuttgart, delivered by Hong Myung-bo, is likely to happen

Sep 01, 2025

Korea Football Association, Sports Chosun DB

Shasha Tabolieri SNS Capture

Picture=Oh Hyun-kyu SNS Capture

Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national soccer team, seemed to have received the information in advance before striker Oh Hyun-kyu (Henk)'s transfer to Stuttgart was reported.

Coach Hong said in an interview before leaving for the U.S. for an away warm-up match at Incheon International Airport at 10 a.m. on the 1st, `No decision has been made yet. There is a little time left (for the transfer market to close) at local time," he said cautiously.

The German Bundesliga will close at 6 p.m. local time on the 1st and 1 a.m. on the 2nd in Korea time. Leading German and Belgian media rushed to report on the 1st that Oh Hyun-kyu signed a five-year contract with Stuttgart for a transfer fee of 28 million euros (about 45 billion won) including options.

The plan is to urgently recruit Oh Hyun-kyu at the closing date of the transfer market as a substitute for Nick Voltemade, the main striker who moved to Newcastle United.

Shasha Tabolieri, a reporter for the Belgian daily 'HNL', who is credited with public confidence in Belgium, said on her personal channel that `Oh Hyun-kyu's transfer to Stuttgart is imminent. Stuttgart and Genk have made progress in negotiations for a transfer fee of 28 million euros (about 45 billion won). Oh has already headed to Stuttgart for a five-year contract, it reported.

The final match of Group B of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup between South Korea and Kuwait at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th. After Lee Kang-in's additional goal, Oh Hyun-kyu is cheering after scoring a goal. Sangam = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.6.10/

It can be inferred from Hong's remarks that Oh Hyun-kyu may be staying in Stuttgart. Hong said, `I haven't heard anything officially yet,' but delayed the flight by about a day. I think something will happen in it."

Oh Hyun-kyu, who was included in the Belgium professional league home game list against Jalter Barreham on the 1st, was scheduled to move individually to the United States to play an A match after the game. We plan to gather in the U.S. on the 2nd and 3rd to play two consecutive games against the U.S. (7th) and Mexico (10th), and the fact that the player delayed the flight by one day can be interpreted as a clear transfer signal.

In order to complete the transfer, a new team must conduct a medical test and sign the contract directly. In addition, they have to take official photos to be presented to fans. I need a day or so.

If Oh Hyun-kyu's transfer to Stuttgart is confirmed, the number of Korean Bundesliga players will increase to four. Currently, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Jung Woo-young (Unyon Berlin) are on the German stage.

Picture=Oh Hyun-kyu SNS Capture

The transfer fee of 28 million euros ranks third in the Korean transfer fee list. Kim Min-jae, who is wearing a Munich uniform for a buyout of 50 million euros in Naples in the summer of 2023, is maintaining his undisputed No. 1 position. Second place is 30 million euros for Son Heung-min, who moved from Leverkusen to Tottenham in 2015.

Oh Hyun-kyu's transfer fee is higher than 22 million euros for Lee Kang-in, who moved from Mallorca to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, 19 million euros for Kim Min-jae, who moved from Fenerbahce to Napoli in 2022, and 16.7 million euros for Hwang Hee-chan, who transferred from Leipzig to Wolverhampton in 2021.

Stuttgart is a club where Jung Woo-young is involved until just last June. He transferred to Munich in 2023 after receiving a love call from coach Sebastian Hönes Stuttgart, who had a relationship with Munich's second team. However, Jung Woo-young, who started only five times in the Bundesliga in the 2023-2024 season, left on loan to Union Berlin in the 2024-2025 season, and completely transferred to Union after the season.

If Oh Hyun-kyu moves to Stuttgart, he will play two consecutive Korean derby games (Bundesliga, DFB Pokal) against Lee Jae-sung, a senior member of the national team in October, a Korean derby against Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) in November, and a Korean derby against Kim Min-jae (League) in December.

Yonhap News

Oh Hyun-kyu is a former Suwon Samsung Youth member and has entered the European stage by joining Celtic in 2023 after serving as managing director of Suwon and Gimcheon. He was selected for the first time as a member of the South Korean national soccer A team in 2022 and has played 19 A matches so far, scoring four goals. Oh Hyun-kyu is certain to be introduced as a Stuttgart player from the two consecutive games.

The emergence of a new big leaguer is welcome news for the national team nine months before the World Cup. Due to captain Son Heung-min (LA FC)'s advance to U.S. professional football and backup of defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and midfielder Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), only one player remains as the main player in Europe's top five leagues. Striker Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) has recently expanded his position as a main player, but he was not selected for the list this September.

Coach Hong said "It is true that Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in are not playing in the game more than expected. However, it hasn't been long since the opening, and we have to wait and see about that part in the future. I'm not in a position to control the game time, so I want the players to work harder and try to play. I intend to have in-depth talks with those players on this away trip."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.