Transfers
MERCATO
OFFICIEL
Song Min-kyu swaps K League for Primeira Liga in blockbuster Nacional move
The 26-year-old attacker leaves FC Seoul for the Portuguese side in a deal confirmed on 29 August 2026.
Forward Song Min-kyu has completed his switch from FC Seoul to Nacional, with both clubs confirming the transfer on 29 August 2026. The 26-year-old Korea Republic international brings a proven goalscoring record from his three seasons in the K League to Madeira.
At a glance
- Age / Position: 26 / Attacker
- Deal: Transfer confirmed 29 August 2026
- Clubs: From FC Seoul to Nacional
Career context
Song’s journey reads like a modern K League success story. He began his senior career with Pohang Steelers before a January 2026 free-agent move to FC Seoul, where he spent the remainder of the campaign. A previous stint at Jeonbuk Motors — itself a move from Pohang in July 2021 — gave him his first taste of consistent first-team football. Across those years he collected a K League 1 winners’ medal in 2021, a Korea Cup triumph in 2022, and an Asian Games gold with the national team in 2023, establishing himself as a reliable option in the final third.
His return of four goals and one assist in 39 appearances across all competitions in 2025 — split between Jeonbuk and FC Seoul — demonstrated a knack for finding the net when it mattered, even if his overall pass accuracy of 70% and a modest 29% dribble success rate suggested room for growth in tighter, more physical situations.
How he fits at his new club
Nacional, based in Funchal on Madeira, compete in the Primeira Liga and play their home fixtures at the Estádio da Madeira, a compact, atmospheric venue with a capacity of 5,200. The club has a history of recruiting technically gifted Asian talents — most notably Japan’s Kazuyoshi Miura in the 1990s — and Song’s profile aligns well with their preference for mobile, link-up forwards.
Standing 179 cm tall and weighing 72 kg, Song possesses the low centre of gravity and close control to operate effectively in the congested penalty areas that characterise Portuguese football. His attacking attribute score of 33 and creation rating of 51 suggest he thrives in systems that encourage interchange and quick combination play — precisely the kind of fluid front-line movement that Nacional’s coaching staff have sought to implement in recent seasons.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
In the 2025 season, Song featured in 39 matches across K League 1 and the AFC Champions League Elite, starting 37 of those games and accumulating 1,321 minutes on the pitch. His four goals came at a rate of roughly one every 330 minutes, while his single assist contributed to a total of five goal involvements.
Breaking it down by competition:
- K League 1 (Jeonbuk Motors): 35 appearances, 999 minutes, 4 goals, 0 assists, rating 6.93
- AFC Champions League Elite (FC Seoul): 4 appearances, 322 minutes, 0 goals, 1 assist, rating 6.78
Defensively, he contributed 11 tackles, 6 interceptions, and won 53 of 123 duels (43% success rate). His 28 attempted dribbles yielded 8 successes, and he drew 21 fouls — evidence that he frequently dragged defenders out of position to create space for teammates.
His most recent outing, on 1 August 2026, saw him play 61 minutes for FC Seoul in a K League 1 match against Jeonbuk Motors, where he earned a yellow card and received a 6.3 match rating in a goalless draw.
Key takeaways
| Metric | Song Min-kyu (2025) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 39 | Across K League 1 & ACL |
| Goals | 4 | 1 every ~330 mins |
| Assists | 1 | Primarily from wide areas |
| Pass accuracy | 70% | Solid but not elite |
| Duels won | 53/123 (43%) | Physical presence evident |
- Experience in two K League clubs gives him familiarity with high-intensity, physically demanding football — a trait that should translate well to the Primeira Liga.
- Aerial duels and work rate (21 fouls drawn) indicate he can press effectively and occupy defenders, creating opportunities for Nacional’s creative midfielders.
- Set-piece potential remains untapped in his recorded stats — no penalties scored or missed — suggesting he could add a new dimension to Nacional’s attacking play from dead-ball situations.
- Adaptability shown by his performances in both domestic and continental competitions positions him well for the cultural and tactical adjustments required in moving from Seoul to Funchiro.