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Fullname: Hyeok-kyu Kwon
aka: Kwon Hyeokkyu, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Kwon Hyeok-kyu
Born: 13 March 2001
Birthplace: Busan, South Korea
Signed: 24 Jul 2023 (est £850k from Busan IPark)
Loan: 12 Jan 2024 – 30 June 2024 (to St Mirren), 13 Aug 2024-30 June 2025 (to Hibs)
Left: –
Position: Midfielder
Debut: […]
Squad No.: 22
Internationals: […]
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
NOTE: Likely will have to edit and move to pages as not likely to play for the first team.
Biog
Kwon came to Celtic as another prospect from the Far East to help rebuild Celtic in the new era under Brendan Rodgers. However, by this time, the success rate of the players from the Far East was in the red, with ex-Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou having left who had first hand experience of the market.
Kwon may have been dubbed as the “K-League Rodri” (i.e. Rodri of Man City) by some in his home country, but at this point in his career he was playing in the second tier of football in Korea! This was a big concern, and some were openly questioning his potential before he had even been given a chance.
At Celtic, he was to become sidelined and few were to remember his signing. He never even won a single first-team outing in his time at Celtic, even though there was a large turnover of players lost due to injuries.
By the end of 2024, Celtic were deemed to be faltering despite being at the top of the league table. Notably, the last summer intake of transfers to this point was deemed to be an overall failure, and already many were calling for a clear-out, especially after the disastrous Champions League campaign. Even the manager and captain were publicly calling for some greater quality. It didn’t bode well for Kwon.
In fairness, with a new manager and the loss of star player Jota, it was never going to be easy for transition for certain new players. The initial success of the first wave of Asian players to Celtic was not being repeated, and others like Iwata and Koboyashi were similarly not succeeding at Celtic.
To the most critical of the support, Celtic’s recruitment failings were reflected by the signing of Kwon. He came from the South Korean second division, and was seen as a project but wasn’t anywhere near first team action. Who was to take responsibility for this? The manager (Rodgers), Lawwell jnr (in charge of recruitment), the scouts or the coaches.
Most Celtic fans seemed to be more disappointed not to have been able to sing “KwonTheOneRoad“!
He did fine at St Mirren, and was popular there despite being played less than could have been. For the next season he was again loaned out, this time to Hibernian, coming just a few days after Celtic defeated Hibs 2-0 in the league away.
[….]
Quotes
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Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2023-24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| 2026-27 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Goals |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
- […]
Scottish Cup
- […]
Scottish League Cup
- […]
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Articles
Celtic sign South Korean duo Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeon-kyu as both players pen long-term deals
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-sign-south-korean-duo-yang-hyun-jun-and-kwon-hyeon-kyu-as-both-players-pen-long-term-deals-4229494
Celtic have completed a double signing from South Korea by bringing in Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeon-kyu.
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Published 24th Jul 2023, 11:47 BST
Updated 24th Jul 2023, 16:37 BST
Celtic have completed the signing of South Korean winger Hyun-jun Yang.
Celtic have completed the signing of South Korean winger Hyun-jun Yang.
The signing of 21-year-old winger Yang from Gangwon was confirmed before the club announced they had also wrapped up a deal for 22-year-old midfielder Kwon from Busan I-Park. Both players have signed five-year contracts and will link up with compatriot Oh Hyeon-gyu.
Manager Brendan Rodgers told Celtic’s website: “We’re delighted to bring Yang to the club and I’m sure he’s going to be another great addition to the squad. He’s a player that we’ve looked at closely and who we think will further enhance our attacking options which, of course, already include his fellow countryman Oh. He’s an exciting player who was the young player of the year in South Korea last season, which is an indication of his quality, and I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to having a big impact at the club. It’s also clear that he was very keen to make this move to Celtic, so I know he’ll be delighted that everything has now been agreed and we’re really looking forward to working with him.
“We’re also very pleased to bring Kwon to the club, on the same day that we’ve also announced the signing of Yang. Again, he is a player that the club has been aware of for some time, so it’s great that we’ve completed the deal and I know that the player is delighted with the move. We’re looking forward to both players joining up with the squad and playing their part in what we hope will be another successful campaign.”
Yang’s club had been hoping to keep him until the end of their season but the player made it clear he wanted an immediate transfer rather than waiting until the January window. He said: “I’m very pleased to come to Celtic and I’m looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to begin training with them. This is a move that I wanted to make and so it is great to be here in Scotland now as a Celtic player. I have spoken to Hyeon-gyu Oh who has already told me great things about the club and its supporters, so I can’t wait to meet them and play in front of them.”
Kwon said: “This is a great move for me, to be joining the Scottish champions, and I am looking forward to working with the manager and the players. I know that Celtic is already very well-known back home, and I am sure the support will continue to increase now there are three South Korean players, and it will be good to play alongside them.”
Hyeokkyu Kwon joins Celtic’s South Korean contingent as he signs five-year deal
First Team
By Celtic Football Club
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24 Jul 2023, 3:00 pm
Celtic have sealed a South Korean double as they have also signed midfielder Hyeokkyu Kwon from Busan I-Park on a five-year deal, subject to international clearance.
The 22-year-old midfielder, along with fellow new signing, Hyunjun Yang, will join up their countryman, Hyeongyu Oh.
Kwon is delighted to have joined the Scottish Champions, and has admitted that when he was younger, he used to watch South Korean midfielder, Ki Sung-Yueng playing for Celtic.
Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers said: “We’re also very pleased to bring Kwon to the club, on the same day that we’ve also announced the signing of Yang.
“Again, he is a player that the club has been aware of for some time, so it’s great that we’ve completed the deal and I know that the player is delighted with the move.
“We’re looking forward to both players joining up with the squad and playing their part in what we hope will be another successful campaign.”
Kwon said: “This is a great move for me, to be joining the Scottish champions, and I am looking forward to working with the manager and the players.
“I know that Celtic is already very well-known back home, and I am sure the support will continue to increase now there are three South Korean players, and it will be good to play alongside them.”