Yang Min-hyeok (; born 16 April 2006) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Westerlo, on loan from club Tottenham Hotspur, and the South Korea national team.
Club career Gangwon FC In 2022, Yang joined Gangneung Jeil High School and started to play for the school's football club, an academy of Gangwon FC. Prior to the 2024 season, when he was just one year away from graduating, he was promoted to the senior team. He won the K League Player of the Month award for July 2024, becoming the youngest player to win the award. He was on the list of three nominees for the K League 1 Most Valuable Player award after leading Gangwon to second place. The MVP award was given to league champion Jo Hyeon-woo, but he received the Young Player of the Year award.
Tottenham Hotspur Yang signed a six-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur on 28 July 2024, to join the club in January 2025, allowing him to complete the 2024 K League 1 season with Gangwon. He spent part of December 2024 at the club's training ground, learning English.
2024–25: Loan to Queens Park Rangers
On 29 January 2025, Yang joined EFL Championship side Queens Park Rangers on loan for the remainder of the season. On 1 February, he made his Championship debut as a substitute in a 2–1 loss to Millwall. On 14 February, he provided his first Championship assist in a 4–0 win over Derby County, where he made his first start. On 29 March, he scored his first Championship goal in a 3–1 loss to Stoke City.
2025–26: Loan to Portsmouth and Coventry On 8 August 2025, Yang joined fellow Championship club Portsmouth on a season-long loan deal. On 1 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Watford. On 29 December, Yang would be introduced off the bench in the 64th minute in a match against Charlton Athletic. He would go on to score a 98th-minute goal to win the game 2–1, helping Portsmouth beat Charlton Athletic at Fratton Park for the first time since April 2005.
On 6 January 2026, Yang was recalled by Tottenham Hotspur, then loaned out to Championship side Coventry City for the remainder of the season. He left Portsmouth to get more appearances, but it was hard to see him at Coventry, who were in the title race. He played only 29 minutes for Coventry until they secured the league title.
International career In 2023, Yang played for the South Korean national under-17 team at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
On 25 March 2025, Yang made his senior international debut during the second half of a World Cup qualifier against Jordan.
2026 Asian Games military exemption controversy Yang secured an exemption for mandatory military service following South Korea's gold medal win at the 2026 Asian Games. Following the match, Yang told reporters that “the medal or trophy was not important” and that he played for the military service exemption. The incident resulted in lawmakers calling for the military service benefit granted for Asian Games gold medals to be reconsidered. He has since apologized for his statement.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinental OtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Gangwon FC2024K League 1381200———3812Tottenham Hotspur2024–25Premier League00000000—00Queens Park Rangers (loan)2024–25Championship142————142Portsmouth (loan)2025–26Championship153—10——163Coventry City (loan)2025–26Championship3010———40Westerlo (loan)2026–27Belgian Pro League2000———20Career total7217101000—7417
Honours South Korea U17 AFC U-17 Asian Cup runner-up: 2023
South Korea U23 Asian Games: 2026
Coventry City EFL Championship: 2025–26
Individual K League Young Player of the Month: April 2024, May 2024, June 2024, July 2024, October 2024 K League All-Star: 2024 K League Player of the Month: July 2024 K League Goal of the Month: July 2024 K League 1 Young Player of the Year: 2024 K League 1 Best XI: 2024 Korean FA Young Player of the Year: 2024
Notes
References
External links
Profile at the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. website
Yang Min-hyeok at KFA