Barbecue ribs & playing with a smile! Ex-Man Utd star Jesse Lingard sends ‘the boy is happy’ message from South Korea

That was not the case for a long time, with the former England international spending several months as a free agent following his release by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Despite working on a personal training programme and taking in trials at West Ham and Al-Ettifaq, Lingard struggled to attract a contract offer.

He was linked with a move to MLS at one stage, while also attracting interest from Turkey, but now finds himself in the Far East with FC Seoul. Lingard has stepped a long way outside of his comfort zone, but is embracing a new challenge in Asia.

Lingard has settled quickly among new team-mates, with his infectious personality rubbing off on those around him. He has now shared a collection of pictures on social media that help to prove why he is “happy” once more – as the 31-year-old midfielder enjoys himself on and off the pitch.

Lingard has committed to a two-year contract with FC Seoul and will be hoping to rediscover a spark that he lost towards the end of his time at Old Trafford and during an injury-ravaged one-season stint with Forest at the City Ground.