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After a highly successful 2024 season, which saw Yang Min-hyuk sweep the K League 1, move from semi-pro to professional, and help the Gangwon FC team rise through the rankings, the news was announced today (July 28) . . It’s officially broken: the 18-year-old winger will sign for Tottenham Hotspur from January 2025. To mark the occasion, Nathan Sartain looks back on some of Yang’s highlights in the Gangwon shirt so far.
When he intended to continue, it would take just over 30 seconds for Yang Min-hyuk to score his first first-team goalscoring contribution for Gangwon FC. After the ball was handed to him, his shot deflected off Lee Sang-heon and into the net, perhaps setting the tone for what is to come straight from his debut.
Just a week later, Yang Min-hyuk would do even better. Against Gwangju, the young winger picked up the ball at the most sensitive spot on the pitch and calmly dribbled forward, before his effort flew into the corner. Unfortunately, Gangwon would go on to lose that match 4-2, but it was already starting to become obvious that they had a very exciting prospect on their hands.
While Gangwon FC would be back in shape in May, so would Yang Min-hyuk. The start of that streak came when the 18-year-old scored against contenders Pohang Steelers, the spotlight of the month was undoubtedly his goal. in a 2-1 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. There, Yang would drive the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle, giving the Bears a significant lead early on.
By closing out this era of form starting in May, Yang Min-hyuk would become the youngest winner of the Young Player of the Month award. Well deserved, it was a milestone in the winger’s career and the popularity of his skills did not go unnoticed.
While Gangwon was looking for a challenge on the more sensible step of K League 1, they played a home game against Suwon FC, knowing that a win could temporarily put them on the more sensible step of the table. And after Yago Cariello gave in with the hosts in the lead, it was none other than Yang Min-hyuk who firmly secured the 3 points for the Bears, with a serene finish that highlighted the advances in this dominance of their game. Now, it didn’t just look like Gangwon had a star. in their hands, but with a team that was performing well, qualification for the AFC Champions League was far from a possibility for the club.
Moving on, the next logical step is to sign Yang Min-hyuk a full professional contract. And this was made official on June 17, via a live broadcast, months before the initial year-end plan. Gangwon now recognizes the undeniable fortune of his star recruit, amid growing rumors of European interest.
After going six games without scoring, Yang Min-hyuk would return to the headlines with a brace against Jeju United, making him the youngest player in the K League to score multiple times in a single match. The first, a curling effort from a well-crafted corner routine, gave Gangwon a 2-0 lead, before a perfectly placed second-half volley from inside the box cemented the problems for the Bears. And, while young players deserve the opportunity to expand away from undue expectations, it was hard to avoid thinking about the growing rumours about the winger’s move to the Premier League.
As the verbal exchange began to expand over Yang Min-hyuk’s signing for Tottenham Hotspur, in the midst of a season in which the 18-year-old had won 3 consecutive Young Player of the Month awards, he had been voted into the K-League team roster. Conceded against Spurs and had become a focal point of Gangwon’s attack, the direct winger showed that he is focused on the task at hand for his current club with purpose and help against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
For his goal, after a sudden step of the warm-up play, the ball ended up at the feet of Yang Min-hyuk just outside the box, before a deft touch gave him a shot opportunity he was never going to pass up. True to form, the 18-year-old winger would give Gangwon the lead with a shot into the most sensitive corner.