Eom Ji-sung | Ki told me Swansea City would be a great place for me
New signing Eom Ji-sung hopes he can follow in Ki Sung-yueng’s footsteps by enjoying success at Swansea City, revealing the former midfielder encouraged him to make the move to SA1.
Eom, 22, has signed a four-year contract at the Swansea.com Stadium after joining for an undisclosed fee, subject to visa approval and international clearance.
He will wear the number 10 shirt following his arrival from Gwangju, which is Ki’s hometown.
Ki was part of the Swansea side that secured League Cup glory in 2013 and an eighth-place Premier League finish in 2015, scoring notable goals against the likes of Manchester United during his six years with the Swans.
And, upon hearing his old club were seeking to sign Eom after scouting the player over a number of months, Ki made sure to speak to the South Korea international.
“Yes, I talked with him,” said Eom in his first interview as a Swansea player.
“When Ki heard that I was going, he contacted me first and we spoke on the phone. I think it was a big help because Ki cheered me on, told me to work hard, and told me that I would adapt well.
“He said that It's a very good team. Some of the coaching staff here are his friends and it would be a great help in helping me adapt. He added that Swansea City plays good football.
“I was young at the time when he played for Swansea, so I don't remember much, but I do remember some fantastic mid-range shots and goals.
“Since I was young, I dreamed of emulating players like Ki Sung-yueng and Park Ji-sung, and I think that was the driving force that brought me to where I am now. I think that’s why I was able to seize such a great opportunity.
“I am truly honoured to join such a great team.”
Another important conversation was that Eom held with head coach Luke Williams, which the forward admits impressed him with the level of detail; in terms of his role and what he can bring to his new team.
“I think I had no choice but to come because of that conversation,” said Eom.
“Through that video meeting I gained confidence in myself, and all I could think was that I had to come no matter what.
“I made the choice because the coach looked at me favorably, and explained in detail how I would be used by this team and what the game plan is.”
Capable of playing out wide and in a more central role behind the striker, the South Korea international has four seasons of senior football under his belt and was capped by his country when he made a goalscoring debut against Iceland in 2022.
Eom has scored 20 goals in 108 K League appearances for Gwangju since making his club debut in 2021.
His ability to take players on and create was identified by the Swansea recruitment team several months ago, with his performances and contributions assessed across a number of different environments and scenarios.
Williams has spoken of the need to carry a greater threat in the final third, and Eom is confident he can help fulfil that requirement.
“I think I can show a lot of my strengths in areas such as crossing in attacking situations, in one-on-one situations and shooting,” he said.
“I know I have to work hard, I still can’t believe that I might have my debut match next month, because it hasn't been long since I arrived.
“I think It will feel a bit more real when I train with the players, and I’ll become closer to them.
“I need to prepare a lot through training to be able to perform well at that time.”