Bae Junho Opens Up About Stoke City Future Amid Transfer Speculation
Stoke City midfielder Bae Junho has addressed growing speculation about his future, acknowledging that his representatives are in contact with other clubs about a potential move this summer.
Currently back in South Korea on international duty with the under-22 national team, the 21-year-old has spoken candidly about the uncertainty surrounding his next steps. Although he is still under contract with Stoke City for another two seasons, Junho admitted that discussions are taking place behind the scenes regarding a possible transfer.
Junho’s comments come after a frustrating season at Stoke, where the club once again found itself near the bottom of the Championship table. He expressed disappointment over the team’s struggles, which have seen him work under four different managers in less than two years since arriving in England. These constant changes and a lack of consistency have understandably impacted his development and performance.
Speaking from a training camp in Wonju, Junho said, “This season was more disappointing than the last. The team couldn’t finish the campaign well, and I experienced a lot of mixed emotions. Now, we have to leave that behind and prepare properly for the next season.”
He also confirmed that his agents are exploring options with other clubs, although no official bids have been submitted to Stoke at this stage. “My representatives are in talks with several teams. As for me, I’m just focused on doing my best in whatever situation I’m placed in,” he said. “Rather than targeting a specific league or club, I want to consider how much interest a club has in me and what kind of situation they’re in.”
Reports suggest that Junho’s camp visited Stoke’s training facility at Clayton Wood in the spring to discuss his future. While Stoke are not under pressure to sell, any potential transfer fee could be helpful for new manager Mark Robins and sporting director Jon Walters as they look to reshape the squad during the summer window.
Junho is currently preparing with South Korea’s under-22 side, which is now managed by his former coach at Daejeon Hana Citizen, Lee Min-seong. Though he has earned seven senior caps over the past year, Junho missed out on the current senior squad, which he attributes to being out of peak condition.
“I was hoping to be called up to the senior team, but the coach pointed out that I wasn’t physically ready, and I agree,” Junho admitted. “Now that I’ve been selected for the under-22s, I’m fully focused here.”
South Korea’s under-22 team has upcoming friendly matches against Australia as they begin preparations for the 2026 Asian Cup and the 2028 Olympics. These competitions carry extra significance because South Korean players can be exempted from mandatory military service if they succeed.
Junho also shared his excitement about working again with coach Lee Min-seong. “He was my first professional coach, and I have many good memories with him,” he said. “I’m happy to reunite, but right now, I’m concentrating fully on training.”
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