His Korean team FC Seoul said yesterday, “We decided to transfer Lee Chung-yong, who got an offer to join the Bolton Wanderers. We agreed on the transfer with Bolton in the interest of a broader framework and have to work out the details.”

The head of a soccer support team Kang Myeong-won and Lee will leave for England today to hold negotiations and undergo required processes including a physical.

FC Seoul, which is in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League and leads the K-league standings, will greatly miss Lee, however.

“We absolutely need Lee Chung-yong but made a difficult decision for the future development of Korean soccer,” the team said.

Lee is set to be the seventh Korean to join the Premiership, following Park Ji-sung(Manchester United); Lee Young-pyo (formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund and now with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal); Seol Ki-hyeon (Fulham FC); Lee Dong-gook (formerly with Middlesbrough and now with the K-League’s Jeonbuk Hyundai); Kim Doo-hyun (West Bromwich); and Cho Won-hee (Wigan Athletic).

Last season, Bolton finished 13th out of 20 Premier League teams with 11 wins, eight draws and 19 losses.