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Lee Chung-yong joins Crystal Palace in Premier League

February 3, 2015
Bolton Wanderers’ Lee Chung-yong is expected to be a criticial piece of the Korean attack at the World Cup in Brazil. (Korea Times file)

Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of of Lee Chung-Yong from Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee. (Korea Times file)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — South Korean midfielder Lee Chung-yong has joined Crystal Palace, the Premier League club announced Tuesday.

The London-based Crystal Palace announced on its website that it has signed Lee, formerly with the second-division club Bolton Wanderers, through June 2018. The transfer fee was not disclosed.

The move marks Lee’s return to the top English competition after 2 1/2 seasons in the lower division. Lee, who made his professional debut in South Korea, joined Bolton in 2009, and the club has been toiling in the second tier since getting relegated in 2012.

Lee, 26, had been subject to transfer speculation throughout the winter, as Bolton sought to deal him to a Premier League side for fees, instead of risking losing him for nothing in the summer.

He has made 195 appearances for Bolton, including 26 this season.

Internationally, he has represented South Korea at the past two FIFA World Cups. He also competed at last month’s AFC Asian Cup but left the team after one match with a leg injury.

There are two other South Koreans in the Premier League this season: Ki Sung-yeung for Swansea City and Yun Suk-young for Queens Park Rangers.