# 2025 Pohang Steelers season

The 2025 season was Pohang Steelers' 43rd season in the K League 1 in South Korea. Pohang Steelers competed in the K League 1, Korean FA Cup, and the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two after winning the 2024 Korean FA Cup but did not finished the league in fourth place or higher in the 2024 K League 1.

## Players

| No. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Previous club | Contract since | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| 1 | Yoon Pyeong-gook | (1992-02-08) 8 February 1992 (age 33) | Gwangju | 2022 | 2025 |
| 21 | Hwang In-jae | (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 (age 30) | Gimcheon Sangmu | 2020 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| 2 | Eo Jeong-won | (1999-07-08) 8 July 1999 (age 25) | Busan IPark | 2024 | |
| 3 | Lee Dong-hee | (2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 25) | Bucheon | 2024 | 2026 |
| 5 | Jonathan Aspropotamitis | (1996-06-07) 7 June 1996 (age 28) | Macarthur | 2024 | |
| 13 | Kang Min-jun | (2003-04-08) 8 April 2003 (age 21) | Korea University | 2025 | |
| 17 | Shin Kwang-hoon | (1987-03-18) 18 March 1987 (age 38) | Gangwon | 2021 | 2025 |
| 23 | Lee Dong-hyeop | (2003-03-12) 12 March 2003 (age 22) | Kwangwoon University | 2024 | |
| 26 | Lee Tae-seok | (2002-07-28) 28 July 2002 (age 22) | FC Seoul | 2024 | |
| 66 | Lee Chang-woo | (2006-03-12) 12 March 2006 (age 19) | Youth Team | 2025 | |
| | Jo Sung-Wook | (1995-03-22) 22 March 1995 (age 29) | Seongnam FC | 2025 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| 4 | Jeon Min-gwang | (1993-01-17) 17 January 1993 (age 32) | Goyang Citizen | 2019 | |
| 6 | Kim Jong-woo | (1993-10-01) 1 October 1993 (age 31) | Gwangju | 2019 | 2025 |
| 8 | Oberdan | (1995-07-03) 3 July 1995 (age 29) | Figueirense | 2024 | 2026 |
| 10 | Baek Sung-dong | (1991-08-13) 13 August 1991 (age 33) | FC Anyang | 2023 | 2025 |
| 12 | Cho Jae-hun | (2003-06-29) 29 June 2003 (age 21) | Jeonnam Dragons | 2022 | |
| 16 | Han Chan-hee | (1997-03-17) 17 March 1997 (age 28) | Gimcheon Sangmu | 2023 | 2025 |
| 22 | Hong Ji-woo | (2003-04-17) 17 April 2003 (age 21) | Tongmyong University | 2025 | |
| 70 | Hwang Seo-woong | (2005-01-22) 22 January 2005 (age 20) | Youth Team | 2024 | |
| 77 | Wanderson | (1995-07-03) 3 July 1995 (age 29) | Al-Ittihad Kalba | 2022 | 2026 |
| 88 | Kim Dong-jin | (2003-07-30) 30 July 2003 (age 21) | Hannam University | 2024 | |
| | Kim Seo-jin | (2005-01-07) 7 January 2005 (age 20) | Cheonan City | 2024 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| 7 | Kim In-sung | (1989-09-09) 9 September 1989 (age 35) | Seoul E-Land | 2023 | 2025 |
| 9 | Jorge Luiz | (1999-06-21) 21 June 1999 (age 25) | Feirense | 2024 | |
| 11 | Jo Seong-joon | (1990-11-27) 27 November 1990 (age 34) | FC Anyang | 2024 | |
| 15 | Lee Kyu-min | (2005-09-28) 28 September 2005 (age 19) | Pyeongtaek Jinwee | 2024 | |
| 18 | Kang Hyeon-Je | (2002-08-31) 31 August 2002 (age 22) | Sangji University | 2023 | 2025 |
| 19 | Lee Ho-jae | (2000-10-14) 14 October 2000 (age 24) | Korea University | 2021 | 2025 |
| 20 | An Jae-joon | (2001-04-13) 13 April 2001 (age 23) | Bucheon | 2024 | |
| 37 | Hong Yun-sang | (2002-03-19) 19 March 2002 (age 22) | 1. FC Nürnberg II | 2023 | |
| 97 | Juninho Rocha | (1997-11-05) 5 November 1997 (age 27) | Chungnam Asan | 2025 | 2025 |
| 99 | Cho Sang-hyeok | (2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 (age 21) | Ajou University | 2025 | |
| Players who went out on loan during season |||||||
| 20 | Park Chan-yong | (1996-01-27) 27 January 1996 (age 29) | Jeonnam Dragons | 2022 | |
| 66 | Kim Jun-ho | (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 (age 22) | Youth Team | 2024 | |
| | Park Su-been | (2005-08-27) 27 August 2005 (age 19) | CD Leganés B | 2024 | |
| Players who left mid-season |||||||
| 34 | Lee Gyu-baeg | (2004-02-10) 10 February 2004 (age 21) | Youth Team | 2022 | |
| 47 | Kim Beom-su | (2000-04-08) 8 April 2000 (age 24) | Ansan Greeners FC | 2025 | |

## Transfers
### Pre-season
#### In

Transfers in
| Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| DF | Tom Beadling | Western Sydney Wanderers | Undiclosed |
| FW | Kim Beom-sul | Ansan Greeners FC | Undiclosed |
| FW | Juninho Rocha | Chungnam Asan | Undiclosed |
Loan in
| Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| DF | Jo Sung-Wook | Seongnam FC | Season loan |
Returned from loan
| Position | Player | Returned from | Remark |
| DF | Cho Jae-hun | Jeonnam Dragons | End of loan |
| DF | Kim Ryun-sung | Busan IPark | End of loan |
| MF | Kim Jung-hyun | Chungbuk Cheongju | End of loan |
| MF | Kim Seo-jin | Cheonan City | End of loan |
| FW | Yoon Jae-Woon | Bucheon | End of loan |

#### Out

Transfers out
| Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| GK | Kang Seong-hyeok | Seoul Jungnang FC | Free |
| DF | Lee Gyu-baeg | Gyeongnam FC | Free |
| DF | Kim Ryun-sung | Jeju SK | Free |
| DF | Choi Hyeon-woong | Chungnam Asan | Free |
| MF | Kim Jung-hyun | Chungnam Asan | Free |
| MF | Yoon Min-Ho | Jeonnam Dragons | Free |
| MF | Min Sang-gi | Gwangju FC | Free |
| MF | Yun Suk-ju | Seoul E-land | Free |
| MF | Kim Gyu-hyeong | | Free |
| FW | Heo Yong-joon | Seoul E-Land | Free |
| FW | Park Hyeong-woo | Ansan Greeners | Free |
| FW | Jeong Jae-hee | Daejeon Hana Citizen | Free |
| FW | Yoon Jae-woon | Gimpo FC | Free |
| FW | Kim Myung-jun | Genk | Free |
Loaned out
| Position | Player | Loaned to | Note |
| GK | Lee Seung-Hwan | Chungbuk Cheongju | Season loan |
| MF | Paik Sang-hoon | Dangjin Citizen FC | Season loan |
| MF | Kim Jun-ho | Gimcheon Sangmu FC | Military Service |
| FW | Park Su-been | CD Leganés B | Season loan until June 2025 |
| FW | Kim Beom-su | Seongnam FC | Season loan |
Rumors out
| Position | Player | Transferred to |

### Mid-season
#### In

Transfers in
| Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee |

#### Out

Transfers out
| Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
Loaned out
| Position | Player | Loaned to | Note |

## Friendly matches

Win  Draw  Loss

### Others
## Competitions
### K League 1
#### Matches

As usual, the league season is played over 38 matches. After 33 league matches between the 12 participating teams, the teams are split into the final round (top 6 teams) and relegation round (bottom 6 teams).
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 8 | Gwangju FC | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | |
| 9 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 | |
| 10 | Jeju SK | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 4 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 11 | Suwon FC | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 12 | Pohang Steelers | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 2 | Relegation to K League 2 |
* ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.

### 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 7 | Shanghai Shenhua | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 8 | Shanghai Port | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 8 | Advance to round of 16 |
| 9 | Pohang Steelers | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 6 | |
| 10 | Ulsan HD | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 3 | |
| 11 | Central Coast Mariners | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 1 | |
Win  Draw  Loss

#### League stage
### 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two
#### Group stage
## Team statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of 16 Mar 25
| No. | Pos. | Player | K-League | K-League | FA Cup | FA Cup | AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 ACL Elite | AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 ACL Elite | AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 ACL Two | AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 ACL Two | Total | Total |
| No. | Pos. | Player | Apps. | Goals | Apps. | Goals | Apps. | Goals | Apps. | Goals | Apps. | Goals |
| 1 | GK | Yoon Pyeong-gook | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Eo Jeong-won | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Lee Dong-hee | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Jeon Min-gwang | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Jonathan Aspropotamitis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Kim Jong-woo | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Kim In-sung | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Oberdan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Jorge Luiz | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Baek Sung-dong | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Jo Seong-joon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | Cho Jae-hun | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | Kang Min-jun | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | Lee Kyu-min | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Han Chan-hee | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Shin Kwang-hoon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | Kang Hyeon-Je | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | Lee Ho-jae | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| 20 | FW | An Jae-joon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | Hwang In-jae | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Hong Ji-woo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Lee Dong-hyeop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | Lee Tae-seok | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 37 | FW | Hong Yun-sang | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 55 | DF | Choi Hyun-Woung | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 66 | DF | Lee Chang-woo | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 70 | MF | Hwang Seo-woong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | MF | Wanderson | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | Kim Dong-jin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 97 | FW | Juninho Rocha | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 99 | FW | Cho Sang-hyeok | 0+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Players featured on a match but left the club on-loan |||||||||||||
| 47 | FW | Kim Beom-su | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players featured on a match but left the club mid-season permanently |||||||||||||
| 34 | DF | Lee Gyu-baeg | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |