SV Darmstadt are poised to complete the signing of South Korean striker Ho-Jae Lee from Pohang Steelers, with official confirmation expected in the coming days.
The 25-year-old is set to join Florian Kohfeldt’s side as the 2. Bundesliga club urgently rebuilds its forward line following the departures of Fraser Hornby and Isac Lidberg. Darmstadt were competing for promotion last season until an abysmal run of results at the end of the campaign dashed their hopes of returning to the Bundesliga.
Lee’s prolific record
The 1.92-metre forward arrives with an impressive scoring pedigree. He has struck 53 goals in 177 appearances for Pohang Steelers and currently tops the K League 1 scoring charts among South Korean players with eight goals this season. Only Brazilian striker Yago Cariello, with nine goals, has outscored him in the division overall.
Lee’s breakthrough 2025 campaign saw him finish third in the league’s scoring standings with 15 goals. He has also made his mark internationally, finding the net on his full debut for South Korea at the East Asian Football Championship last year.
Rebuilding the attack
The impending move addresses a critical shortage of striking options for Kohfeldt. With Hornby and Lidberg having moved on, Darmstadt have been forced to scour the market for proven goalscorers capable of firing them back into contention for the top flight.
While the deal is not yet official, reports suggest the formal announcement is imminent. If completed, the transfer would mark Lee’s first venture into European football and provide Darmstadt with the attacking reinforcement they crave as they look to mount a sustained promotion challenge.