PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yang Hyun-jun |
| Date of Birth | 25/05/2002 (Age: 24) |
| Place of Birth | Busan, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height | 1.79 m / 5 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 69–73 kg |
| Position | Right Winger / Wing-Back / Right Midfielder / Left Winger |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #13 (Celtic) |
| Current Club | Celtic |
| Previous Clubs | Gangwon FC |
| International Caps | 8+ |
| International Goals | 0 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| Contract Until | 2030 |
| Market Value | €3.8M |
The Frozen Moment
Guadalajara, Mexico. June 19, 2026. South Korea, the Taegeuk Warriors, were locked in a tense World Cup group-stage battle against co-hosts Mexico. The Estadio Akron was packed, the atmosphere electric, and the stakes immense. For Yang Hyun-jun, the 24-year-old winger from Busan, the moment had finally arrived.
Yang had been named in South Korea’s 26-man World Cup squad just weeks earlier. His journey to the global stage had been anything but straightforward. Just a year earlier, he had been on the verge of leaving Celtic, with a deadline-day move to Birmingham City falling through. Now, he was being called upon at the World Cup.
In the 71st minute, he was introduced as a substitute against Mexico with South Korea trailing 1-0. He had 19 minutes to make an impact. He completed 20 minutes of World Cup football, registering one shot and one tackle. But the match ended in a 1-0 defeat, and South Korea’s World Cup campaign would ultimately end in group-stage disappointment.
For the winger who had transformed from a squad player to a key figure at Celtic, scoring 17 goals in 111 appearances and winning three Scottish Premiership titles, the World Cup was another step in a career marked by resilience and rapid ascent. His journey from the K League to the global stage was complete.
Origins
Born on May 25, 2002, in Busan, South Korea, Yang Hyun-jun’s football journey began in his hometown. He attended Busan Sangri Elementary School and later trained at Geoje City Public Sports Club U15 and Busan Information High School. He was recognised early for his talent, winning the “Korea Football Association Genius Award” just one year after he began playing seriously.
In July 2021, Yang joined Gangwon FC as a free agent in the K League 1. He made his professional debut in the 2021 season, making nine appearances. His breakthrough came in the 2022 season, when he made 32 K League appearances, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
Yang has represented South Korea at multiple youth levels, including the U23 national team for the 2022 U23 Asian Cup. He made his senior debut for South Korea in September 2023. He has since earned eight caps for his country.
The European Forge
Gangwon FC (2021-2023):
Yang’s professional career began in the K League 1 with Gangwon FC. Over three seasons, he made 49 league appearances, scoring 7 goals and providing 2 assists. His performances in the K League caught the attention of European scouts, and in July 2023, he made the move to Celtic on a five-year contract.
Celtic (2023-Present):
Yang joined Celtic in July 2023 and has become a key figure in the squad. He has made 111 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals. His trophy cabinet at Celtic is remarkable: three Scottish Premiership titles, a Scottish Cup, and a Scottish League Cup.
The 2023/24 season was his debut campaign at Celtic. He made 31 official appearances, scoring 1 goal and providing 3 assists. The 2024/25 season saw him continue his development, making 34 appearances, scoring 6 goals and providing 6 assists. The 2025/26 season was his breakthrough campaign. He made 46 official appearances, recording 10 goals and 3 assists, his best season since moving to Europe. In the Premiership, he made 31 appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 1 assist, accumulating 2,070 minutes of playing time. He also featured in 7 UEFA Europa League matches, scoring 1 goal.
At Celtic’s end-of-season awards for 2025/26, Yang won the Young Player Award and the Goal of the Season award for his strike against Rangers in January. He scored important goals against Rangers and Feyenoord during the campaign. His versatility has been a key asset—while his primary position is right winger, he has also played as a wing-back and full-back.
In May 2026, Yang signed a new contract with Celtic running until 2030. Speaking about the deal, he said: “I love this club and my future is here. I’m happy, and though the season was a little bit hard, we are champions and hopefully next season it will be easier. I also want to show better performances in the European games.”
South Korea National Team (2023-Present):
Yang made his senior debut for South Korea in September 2023. He has earned eight caps for his country and was part of the squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, making two appearances. He was named in South Korea’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At the tournament, he appeared as a substitute in South Korea’s 1-0 defeat to Mexico, playing 20 minutes.
The Anatomy of His Game
Yang Hyun-jun is a dynamic, right-footed winger known for his exceptional work rate, one-on-one ability, and versatility across the right flank. He is primarily deployed as a right winger but can also play as a right wing-back, right midfielder, or left winger.
In Possession:
Yang is a creative threat in the final third. In the 2025/26 Premiership season, he recorded 8 goals and 1 assist in 31 appearances. He is a confident dribbler who takes on opponents, and Celtic’s coaching staff have encouraged him to embrace one-on-one situations. He has scored important goals against Rangers, Hearts, and Feyenoord.
Out of Possession:
Yang’s work rate is his standout attribute. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney has described him as having an “unbelievable work rate.” He has earned the trust of the manager and his teammates through his defensive contributions and intensity without the ball. He is trying to replicate the off-the-ball standards set by former Celtic winger Daizen Maeda, who was described as “about as good an attacking player as I’ve seen without the ball.”
Psychological Edge:
Yang has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout his career. Just a year before his World Cup selection, he was on the verge of leaving Celtic for Birmingham City. The move fell through, and he responded by becoming a key player for the club, earning a new contract and a World Cup call-up. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney noted: “He’s taken it. It’s got nothing to do with us. It’s all him.” Manager Martin O’Neill has praised his bravery, saying he “takes the ball under pressure.”
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Premiership | 31 (28) | 2,070 | 8 | 1 | 7.18 |
| UEFA Europa League | 7 (6) | 452 | 1 | — | — |
| UEFA Champions League | 2 (1) | 115 | 0 | — | — |
| Scottish Cup | — | — | — | — | — |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 1 (0) | 20 | 0 | 0 | 6.4 |
| TOTAL | 41 | 2,657 | 9 | 1 | — |
TABLE B: Career Overview
| Season | Club | League/Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Gangwon FC | K League 1 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | Gangwon FC | K League 1 | 32 | 4 |
| 2023 | Gangwon FC | K League 1 | 8 | 2 |
| 2023/24 | Celtic | Scottish Premiership / UCL | 31 | 1 |
| 2024/25 | Celtic | Scottish Premiership / UCL | 34 | 6 |
| 2025/26 | Celtic | Scottish Premiership / UEL | 46 | 10 |
| TOTAL | — | — | 160 | 23 |
TABLE C: International Record
| Tournament/Competition | Apps | Goals | Major Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 1 | 0 | Group Stage |
| AFC Asian Cup 2023 | 2 | 0 | — |
| South Korea Senior Career | 8 | 0 | — |
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Professional Debut | Gangwon FC |
| 2022 | K League Breakthrough | 32 appearances, 4 goals |
| 2023 | Celtic Transfer | Signed five-year deal |
| 2023 | South Korea Debut | Senior international debut |
| 2024 | Scottish Premiership Winner | Celtic |
| 2025 | Scottish Premiership Winner | Celtic |
| 2026 | Scottish Premiership Winner | Celtic |
| 2026 | Celtic Contract Extension | Signed until 2030 |
| 2026 | World Cup Selection | South Korea squad |
| 2026 | World Cup Debut | vs Mexico |
What these figures reveal is a player who has steadily improved since moving to Europe. Yang has accumulated 160 professional appearances and scored 23 goals. His 2025/26 season—46 appearances, 10 goals—was his most productive campaign. He has won three Scottish Premiership titles and a domestic cup double, and his World Cup selection reflects his growing importance to the national team.
The Present Tense
Yang Hyun-jun is 24 years old and entering the prime of his career. He is a key player for Celtic and a member of South Korea’s World Cup squad.
The Celtic Story:
Yang signed a new contract with Celtic in May 2026, running until 2030, committing his future to the club. In the 2025/26 season, he made 46 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing 3 assists, winning the club’s Young Player Award and Goal of the Season award.
His trajectory at Celtic has been remarkable. Just a year earlier, he was on the verge of joining Birmingham City on deadline day before the move fell through. Under manager Martin O’Neill, who took interim charge in October 2025, Yang flourished, earning the manager’s trust with his work rate and big-game performances. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney has praised his development, noting that Yang “took that right-wing position by the scruff of the neck last year.”
The World Cup Campaign:
Yang was named in South Korea’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made one appearance in the tournament, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute in South Korea’s 1-0 defeat to Mexico. He played 20 minutes, recorded one shot on target, one tackle, and one interception, and received a FotMob rating of 6.4. South Korea were eliminated in the group stage.
International Record:
Yang has earned eight caps for South Korea. He made his senior debut in September 2023 and was part of the squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, making two appearances. He has featured in World Cup qualifiers and friendlies for his country.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Yang Hyun-jun is a symbol of perseverance and the value of hard work in football. His journey from the K League to the World Cup, via a near-departure from Celtic, is a testament to his determination and resilience.
Yang’s work ethic is widely praised by his coaches and teammates. Assistant manager Shaun Maloney has described him as “an incredible worker” who is “really, really popular with his teammates.” His willingness to contribute defensively and his off-the-ball intensity have earned him the trust of the manager and the respect of the squad.
Yang benefits from Celtic’s emphasis on attacking wingers. Manager Martin O’Neill gives his wide players the confidence to take on opponents in one-on-one situations, a philosophy that has allowed him to thrive. He is also learning from assistant manager Shaun Maloney, a former winger himself, who has worked closely with him on his game.
The Verdict from the Camp
Martin O'Neill, Celtic manager:
“I’m absolutely delighted, because on transfer deadline day he was down at Birmingham City, so I’m pleased that didn’t go through. The reason that he has done well is that he’s got big, big goals for us at big moments and he’s brave as well. He takes the ball under pressure. He’s super and he’s worked his way back into the South Korean squad.”
Shaun Maloney, Celtic assistant manager:
“Yang kind of just took that right-wing position by the scruff of the neck last year. Really, Yang went to another level. He’s got an unbelievable work rate. He earned the manager’s trust. He’s taken it. It’s got nothing to do with us. It’s all him.”
“He’s a really big player. And he’s so good for the team. I think his teammates love him for the work rate. He is an incredible worker.”
Yang Hyun-jun, Celtic winger:
“I love this club and my future is here. I’m happy, and though the season was a little bit hard, we are champions and hopefully next season it will be easier. I also want to show better performances in the European games.”
Statistic:
Yang has made 111 appearances for Celtic, scoring 17 goals.
Statistic:
Yang has won three Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic.
Statistic:
Yang has earned eight caps for South Korea and represented his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Where Next?
Yang Hyun-jun is 24 years old and has a bright future ahead of him. He is under contract with Celtic until 2030 and is expected to be a key player for the club. His performances in the 2025/26 season, where he scored 10 goals and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year, have established him as an important figure in the squad. Celtic are reportedly strengthening their attacking options with the signing of Haissem Hassan, but Yang is expected to remain a central figure on the right flank.
For South Korea, Yang represents a promising attacking option for the future. With eight caps already and a World Cup appearance under his belt, he will be expected to play an increasingly important role for the Taegeuk Warriors, particularly with the 2027 Asian Cup on the horizon.
From Busan to the World Cup, from Gangwon to Glasgow, Yang Hyun-jun’s journey is one of talent, resilience, and the power of hard work. The winger who nearly left Celtic on deadline day has become a key player for the club and a World Cup squad member—and his story is only beginning.
