FC Seoul acquire Uzbekistan international Alibaev

December 13, 2018

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) — South Korean football club FC Seoul announced their acquisition of Uzbekistan international Ikromjon Alibaev on Thursday.

The K League 1 club said they signed the 24-year-old midfielder to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Alibaev has won three Uzebkistan league championships and three domestic cups with Lokomotiv Tashkent. He scored five goals for Uzbekistan at the 18th Asian Games earlier this year, including two against South Korea in the quarterfinals. South Korea prevailed 4-3 in extra time.

FC Seoul said Alibaev is a playmaker who can score and set up teammates, and they’re counting on him to provide some youthful energy to the club.

Just two years removed from winning the league title, FC Seoul narrowly avoided relegation to the second-tier K League 2 for 2019, after edging out Busan IPark in the promotion-relegation playoff last weekend.

This photo provided by the FC Seoul football club on Dec. 13, 2018, shows the League 1 team's new midfielder, Ikromjon Alibaev. (Yonhap)

This photo provided by the FC Seoul football club on Dec. 13, 2018, shows the League 1 team’s new midfielder, Ikromjon Alibaev. (Yonhap)