OFFICIAL: Górnik Zabrze Sign South Korea International Young-jun Goh from Partizan Belgrade

Górnik Zabrze have bolstered their midfield ranks with the signing of South Korea international Young-jun Goh on a permanent transfer from Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade. The 23-year-old has penned a contract with the Polish top-flight club until the summer of 2028.

The move marks a fresh chapter in Goh’s European journey after a challenging stint in Serbia, where inconsistent game time and managerial upheaval hampered his adaptation. Górnik, however, are confident they have secured a versatile and creative talent who can thrive in the Ekstraklasa.

Goh, a product of the Pohang Steelers academy, made his K League debut in 2020 and went on to make 126 appearances for the club, contributing 20 goals and 14 assists. His performances earned him a move to Partizan in January 2024, but despite showing promise in his first half-season, he struggled for minutes in the following campaign, featuring in just 16 league games.

His difficulties were compounded by a period of exclusion from the first-team squad, following internal disputes and coaching changes. Serbian outlet Sport Ekstra reported in January that a former club director deemed Goh surplus to requirements, with the midfielder subsequently left out of training sessions for an extended period – a decision that had a significant impact on his form and rhythm.

Nevertheless, Górnik’s sporting director Łukasz Milik believes Goh can rediscover his best football in Zabrze.

“Goh is a player with a style similar to [Daisuke] Yokota. He can play as a No.8, a No.10, or even out wide,” Milik said. “We were looking for a creative midfielder, and we had our eyes on him since the winter window. I’m delighted the deal is now complete. I hope he adapts well – he’s the first Korean player in our club’s history, and we’re confident he’ll be an asset.”

Goh is no stranger to success. He was part of the Pohang Steelers side that lifted the Korean FA Cup in the 2022/23 season and played a key role in South Korea’s gold medal-winning Olympic squad at the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023 due to COVID-19 delays) under manager Hwang Sun-hong. That triumph also earned him military exemption – a crucial factor that paved the way for his European move.

Now, at Górnik Zabrze, he finds himself in a club steeped in tradition. Established in 1948, Górnik are 14-time champions of Poland and are widely regarded as one of the country’s most storied football institutions. The club is also home to former Germany international Lukas Podolski, who continues to feature for the first team at 39 and recently extended his contract for another season.

Goh is expected to form part of a refreshed attacking midfield setup, with the club hopeful his technical ability and vision can unlock defences in the Ekstraklasa. His arrival also adds a new international dimension to a squad already aiming for resurgence in domestic competition.

The Korean midfielder will now begin preparations for pre-season in Poland, with the aim of cementing his place in the starting XI and proving his worth in a league that continues to attract rising talent from Asia.