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(s) 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
2024 Christchurch United
2024 Coastal Spirit
2025– Auckland City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 June 2025

David Seung Ho Yoo (born 7 December 1999) [2] is a New Zealand footballer, born in South Korea, who plays as a forward for Auckland City. [3] [4]

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. [5] [6]

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. [5] [6] [7]

New Zealand

Following his return to New Zealand, Yoo singed with Christchurch United for the 2024 Southern League season. He was named MVP after scoring 10 goals. [8] Following the conclusion of the Southern League, Yoo signed for Coastal Spirit for the National League Championship. [9]

On 15 January 2025, Yoo signed for Auckland City for the 2025 Northern League. [10] [11] 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. [12] This was their first non-defeated result since the 2014 edition. [13] [14] [15]

Personal life

A semi-professional footballer, Yoo also works as a community football coach at a number of Auckland schools. [13] [14]

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. "David Seung-Ho Yoo". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  3. Borrowdale, James (14 June 2025). "Auckland City aiming to do amateur football proud in Bayern Munich mismatch". The Guardian . Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  4. "David Yoo". Auckland City FC . Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Auckland's American adventure: David Yoo". FIFA . 7 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  6. 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.
  7. "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.
  8. 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.
  9. Coughlan, Sam (11 October 2024). "New recruits chasing elusive success". Star News. Retrieved 29 June 2025 via Otago Daily Times.
  10. "David Yoo Keeps City's Korean Connection Going". Auckland City FC. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  11. "Southern League MVP David Yoo signs for national champions Auckland City". friendsoffootballnz.com. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  12. "David Yoo - Auckland City Forward". ESPN . Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Christian Gray goal earns Auckland City famous draw against Boca Juniors". stuff.co.nz. 24 June 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Auckland City pull off stunning draw against Boca Juniors at FIFA Club World Cup". rnz.co.nz. 24 June 2025.
  15. "Auckland City FC v CA Boca Juniors - Group C". FIFA. 24 June 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.