Jens Castrop, a 22-year-old midfielder with dual German and South Korean citizenship, is seen in this photo captured from his Instagram page. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Jens Castrop, a 22-year-old midfielder with dual German and South Korean citizenship, became the first foreign-born player of mixed blood to be called up to the South Korean men’s senior national football team.
Coach Hong Myung-bo included Castrop on Monday in a 26-man roster for the team’s upcoming friendlies against the United States and Mexico in September.
The call-up comes as the Taeguk Warriors regroup for the first time since July’s East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship. The squad already secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier this year.
Born in Dusseldorf in 2003 to a German father and Korean mother, Castrop previously represented Germany at various youth levels. He had been seen as a potential addition to Korea’s midfield but was unable to join the team in the first half of the year due to injuries.
His inclusion follows his official switch of international allegiance from the German Football Association to the Korea Football Association after making a full recovery.
The midfielder began his professional career with FC Koln and rose to prominence in the 2. Bundesliga with FC Nurnberg. He recently signed with Borussia Monchengladbach and made both his club and Bundesliga debuts earlier this month.
South Korea will depart for the U.S. on Sept. 1 to face the hosts on Sept. 7 in Harrison, New Jersey, before taking on Mexico on Sept. 10 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Yonhap)
