Former Man Utd star Lingard handed Premier League rejection as he searches for a new club

Posted Thursday, February 05, 2026 by tribalfootball

Jesse Lingard is still searching for a new club after becoming a free agent and has now been rejected by West Ham United.

Lingard scored 19 goals in 67 games for FC Seoul but looks set for a return to Europe now he has been released by the club in December.

He spent nearly two years in South Korea with FC Seoul after joining in 2024 and has struggled to find a club over the past month despite many sides desperately trying to sign experienced midfielders.

Now, talkSPORT report that West Ham were among the Premier League clubs who rejected the chance to re-sign Lingard in the final days of the transfer window.

This comes after manager Nuno Espirio Santo opted instead to sign former Wolves star Adama Traore in a deal worth just 32M.

Lingard has long been linked with a West Ham return but with the winter window now shut, it seems like a move back to the club looks unlikely for the 33-year-old who is in the final stages of his career.

Reports claim that the former England and Manchester United star is now looking for an oversees move once more, as clubs outside Europe can still sign players over the next few weeks.

Lingard joins the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling as English free agents who may have to wait until the summer to get a move.