Korean defender Lee Myung-jae is taking on his first European challenge at the age of 32.

Birmingham City announced on their website, “Lee Myung-jae is transferring from Ulsan HD in Korea to Birmingham. His jersey number is 16.” Lee Myung-jae, who had not renewed his contract with Ulsan, is taking his first step in Europe as a free agent.

Birmingham is familiar as the team Baek Seung-ho plays for. Last season, Birmingham, which was in the English Championship (2nd division), was relegated to League One (3rd division) despite recruiting Baek Seung-ho. As of the 29th round of this season, they are in first place in the league with 4 points, having played 2 games less than the teams competing for promotion, so they are likely to win. Promotion to the Championship, which is given to the 2nd place team, is even more likely. If Lee Myung-jae plays well in Birmingham for half a season and extends his contract, he will play in the Championship starting next season.

Lee Myung-jae said through Birmingham Club, “I can play as a left back and a left stopper of the three backs. After hearing the transfer story, I spoke to Seung-ho first. Seung-ho told me to come quickly and that it was a good team. I really wanted to go.”

Lee Myung-jae is a player who has been loved and active in Ulsan for a long time. He started his professional career by leaving Hongik University and joining Ulsan in 2014. Except for a period in the latter half of his first year with the team when he was loaned to Albirex Niigata in Japan and served in the military for Sangmu, he has been active in Ulsan consistently. Lee Myung-jae, who started playing as a regular player in 2017, returned after completing his military service and played a leading role in winning the K League 1 for three consecutive years starting in 2022.