K-League to end rule banning foreign goalkeepers after 27 years

Foreign goalkeepers will be allowed to play in South Korean professional football from next year when a ban on signing them is ended after 27 years.

The ban has been in place since 1999 and was introduced to help develop homegrown keepers by ensuring they received enough playing time.

However, there were only 10 professional clubs in South Korea 26 years ago, compared to the current 26 in the country’s top two divisions.

“Starting in 2026, clubs will be permitted to register foreign goalkeepers,” said the Korea Professional Football League.

“The K-League previously restricted their participation beginning in 1996 and introduced a full ban in 1999 to encourage the development of domestic goalkeepers, as most clubs at the time relied on foreign players in the position.”