"He could make a great transfer"… Lee Han-beom joins Club Brugge, 9 million euros, 3-year contract
Three years ago, Lee Han-beom's value was 1.5 million euros. It has now jumped 6 times to 9 million euros. With the move to Club Brugge, he has climbed into the upper ranks of transfer fees for Korean players, and his contract runs through 2029.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Three-line summary
- The base transfer fee Club Brugge paid is 9 million euros, up to 10.5 million euros including options.
- When he moved from FC Seoul to Midtjylland in 2023, the transfer fee was 1.5 million euros, so it has increased exactly 6 times.
- Lee made 65 appearances and scored 6 goals in total at Midtjylland, and his contract was due to expire in June 2027.
Three years ago, Lee Han-beom's value was 1.5 million euros. On August 3, 2026, the base transfer fee Club Brugge handed to Midtjylland is 9 million euros. That is 6 times as much. In between, a Danish Cup title and a World Cup appearance were added to his résumé. The center-back, whom 5 Premier League clubs had been watching, is heading next not to England but to Belgium.
Lee Han-beom's transfer fee 9 million euros, up to 10.5 million euros including options
The base transfer fee is 9 million euros (about 14.9 billion won), and with a 1.5 million euro option (about 2.5 billion won) added, the maximum is 10.5 million euros (about 17.3 billion won). Midtjylland secured a 15% sell-on clause on any future transfer fee. Lee is the first Korean player in Brugge's history. These are the figures reported by Denmark's Tipsbladet and by several Korean outlets, including Money Today.
On August 28, 2023, the amount FC Midtjylland paid to FC Seoul was 1.5 million euros. Divide 9 million by 1.5 million and you get 6 times. At the time, sporting director Sven Graversen gave his reason for signing him: "Lee Han-beom is physically strong, athletic and good in duels."
| Rank | Player | Transfer fee | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kim Min-jae | 50 million euros (about 83.2 billion won) | 2023 Napoli → Bayern Munich |
| 2 | Lee Kang-in | 35 million euros (about 58.2 billion won) | 2026 PSG → Atlético Madrid |
| 3 | Son Heung-min | 30 million euros (about 52.4 billion won) | 2015 Leverkusen → Tottenham |
| 4 | Hwang Hee-chan | 16.7 million euros (about 22.6 billion won) | 2022 Leipzig → Wolverhampton |
| 5 | Oh Hyeon-gyu | 14 million euros (about 24 billion won) | February 2026 Genk → Beşiktaş |
| 6 | Kwon Kyung-won | 10.5 million euros | 2019 Jeonbuk → Tianjin Quanjian |
| 7 | Lee Han-beom | 9 million euros (about 14.9 billion won) | August 2026 Midtjylland → Club Brugge |
The table is compiled from News1's all-time transfer fee graphic and individual transfer reports. No outlet has issued an official ranking. The gap is 1.5 million euros to Kwon Kyung-won in 6th and 5 million euros to Oh Hyeon-gyu in 5th.
65 appearances and 6 goals at Midtjylland, full time in all 3 World Cup group matches
Lee Han-beom is a 24-year-old (international age) center-back born on June 17, 2002, in Daegu. He is 188cm tall and can also play as a stopper in a back three. He debuted at FC Seoul in 2021, made 51 K League 1 appearances with 1 goal, and went to Denmark in 2023. His career record at Midtjylland, according to the club's official profile, is 65 appearances and 6 goals.
Since his debut against Kuwait in June 2025, he has played 11 A-matches, and FIFA listed Lee among the defenders in the final 26-man World Cup squad on May 16. According to Korea Football Association records, South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 in their Group A opener on June 12, and Lee played the full match in all 3 group games.
His salary is not a confirmed figure. Sports Kyunghyang reported on July 31, 2026, citing a person on Lee's side, an estimated salary under the Brugge contract of 1.5 million to 2 million euros (about 2.5 billion to 3.3 billion won). It is not a figure officially announced by the club.
Club Brugge's 20 league titles and Coach Leko's center-back reinforcement
Brugge drew 2-2 with KV Mechelen on May 21, 2026, to clinch the Belgian league's 20th title overall. The one who asked for center-back reinforcement is Coach Ivan Leko (48), who took charge on December 8, 2025. In its 2025-26 season preview material, UEFA introduced Brugge as a Champions League league phase participant, and its coefficient ranking at the time was 24th (as of 2026.01.29).
On June 12, TEAMtalk reported that 5 Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Leeds, Chelsea, Newcastle and Brighton, were tracking him, and a week later Tipsbladet quoted Midtjylland's head of sport Kristian Bach Bak (43) as saying, "At some point, Han-beom could make a great transfer." Interest from the 5 clubs remained at the report stage.
His contract with Midtjylland was due to expire on June 30, 2027. Tipsbladet reported speculation that the club could raise its renewal terms or consider a summer sale. The new contract with Brugge runs 3 years through 2029, and his squad number is 3. The 15% sell-on clause will be settled at his next transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How much is Lee Han-beom's transfer fee?
The base fee is 9 million euros (about 14.9 billion won), and with a 1.5 million euro option (about 2.5 billion won), the maximum is 10.5 million euros (about 17.3 billion won). Midtjylland also included a sell-on clause entitling it to 15% of any future transfer fee.
Q. How old is Lee Han-beom, and where does he play?
He was born on June 17, 2002, is 24 years old (international age), and is a center-back born in Daegu. He joined Club Brugge on August 3, 2026, took squad number 3, and his contract runs through 2029.
Q. How many league titles has Club Brugge won?
On May 21, 2026, a 2-2 draw against KV Mechelen clinched the club's 20th Belgian league title. The club said it will add a second star to its crest because of this title.
Related official sites
- FC Midtjylland official profile of Lee Han-beom — original record of his appearances and goals during his Midtjylland years
- Club Brugge official website — announcements on the new club's squad and fixture schedule
- UEFA Club Brugge Champions League page — check European fixtures and results
- FC Midtjylland official website — original text of the club's official transfer announcement
Main image · graphic = Whale SV · portrait photo = Wikimedia Commons (Explicit), CC BY-SA 4.0 · photo = Wikimedia Commons (Ivo Čagalj/PIXSELL), CC BY 3.0
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