David Yoo (footballer)

Last updated

David Yoo
Personal information
Full name David Seung Ho Yoo [1]
Date of birth (1999-12-07) 7 December 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) [1]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
Auckland City
Number 26
Youth career
Wellington Phoenix
–2018 Eastern Suburbs
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2019 Rio Ave B
2019–2022 Padroense
2021Oliveira do Douro (loan)
2022–2023 Leça 21 (1)
2024 Christchurch United 15 (11)
2024 Coastal Spirit 9 (6)
2025– Auckland City 23 (7)
2026– South Island United 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 November 2025

David Seung Ho Yoo (born 7 December 1999) [2] is a New Zealand professional footballer, born in South Korea, who plays as a forward for Auckland City and will join South Island United at the conclusion of the 2025 New Zealand National League. [3]

Contents

Club career

Early career

Yoo played youth football in Christchurch and joined the Asia Pacific Football Academy which was associated with Chelsea, at age 11 or 12. Yoo joined the Wellington Phoenix Academy for a few years, but struggled with growing pains, including pain in the knees and joints. At age 15, he decided to return home to Christchurch. Yoo moved to Auckland towards the end of his high schooling, before moving to Portugal at age 18. [4] [5]

Portugal

After trailing with Rio Ave B, Yoo signed for them for the 2018–19 season. Yoo spent a season there before joining Padroense for three seasons. Towards the end of the 2020–21 season, Yoo was loaned out to Oliveira do Douro. In July 2022, Yoo signed with Leça, where he spent one season, before returning home to New Zealand. [4] [5] [6]

New Zealand

Following his return to New Zealand, Yoo signed with Christchurch United for the 2024 Southern League season. He was named MVP after scoring 10 goals. [7] Following the conclusion of the Southern League, Yoo signed for Coastal Spirit for the National League Championship. [8]

On 15 January 2025, Yoo signed for Auckland City for the 2025 Northern League. [9] [10] In June 2025, Yoo was named in Auckland City's squad for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the club's tenth appearance in the tournament. [1] He played all three group games including the 1–1 draw with Boca Juniors. [11] This was their first non-defeated result since the 2014 edition. [12] [13] [14]

On 17 November 2025, Yoo signed for South Island United for the 2026 OFC Professional League season and he is the first ever player to join the club. [3] [15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 November 2025 [2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leça 2022–23 Campeonato de Portugal 001010
Christchurch United 2024 National League 1511231 [a] 01814
Coastal Spirit 2024 National League960096
Auckland City 2025 National League24700404 [b] 0327
Career total48243340506027
  1. Appearance in Charity Cup
  2. Three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup; one appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Personal life

A semi-professional footballer, Yoo also works as a community football coach at a number of Auckland schools. [12] [13]

Honours

Auckland City

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Squad List" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 "David Seung-Ho Yoo". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Striker David Yoo signs professional contract with South Island United". Friends of Football. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Auckland's American adventure: David Yoo". FIFA . 7 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 Han, June (12 June 2025). "From Seoul to the Club World Cup: David Yoo's Remarkable Journey". Football Asian. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  6. "Do Campeonato de Portugal ao Mundial de Clubes: a ascensão de Zé Pedro e David Yoo" [From the Portuguese Championship to the Club World Cup: the rise of Zé Pedro and David Yoo]. Craques (in Portuguese). 28 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Announcing the MVPs of the regional phase of the National League 2024 🌟". New Zealand Football. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025 via Instagram.
  8. Coughlan, Sam (11 October 2024). "New recruits chasing elusive success". Star News. Retrieved 29 June 2025 via Otago Daily Times.
  9. "David Yoo Keeps City's Korean Connection Going". Auckland City FC. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  10. "Southern League MVP David Yoo signs for national champions Auckland City". friendsoffootballnz.com. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  11. "David Yoo - Auckland City Forward". ESPN . Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Christian Gray goal earns Auckland City famous draw against Boca Juniors". stuff.co.nz. 24 June 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Auckland City pull off stunning draw against Boca Juniors at FIFA Club World Cup". rnz.co.nz. 24 June 2025.
  14. "Auckland City FC v CA Boca Juniors - Group C". FIFA. 24 June 2025.
  15. "South Island United presents David Yoo as historic first signing". Christchurch United. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  16. "This is the Team of the Season in the Men's National League Championship 2024 🌟". New Zealand Football . 16 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024 via Instagram.