A 26-YEAR ban on foreign goalkeepers in South Korea’s top soccer league has been lifted effective from the start of the 2026 season.
Only have been allowed to play in the K League, the oldest professional domestic league in Asia since 1999.
The rule was originally introduced to protect homegrown talent when there were only 10 professional clubs.
Following a board meeting in Seoul this week, the K League announced that with 26 professional clubs now competing across the top two tiers, there’s enough room to accommodate international goalkeepers.
The increase in the number of clubs means there are sufficient opportunities for domestic to play, even with the inclusion of foreigners.
The board said in a statement: “Starting in 2026 clubs will be permitted to register foreign goalkeepers.
“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.
“We have considered the fact that, with foreign player registrations restricted, the salary increase rate of domestic goalkeepers has risen disproportionately compared to outfield players.”;
There have reportedly been concerns over a shortage of quality in the country due in part to the expanded size of modern rosters which typically include three or four goalkeepers.
The decision to lift the ban is now expected to directly increase the number of foreign players in the K League.
The move also brings the K League in line with other major Asian leagues, such as those in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and China.
Another rule that was introduced last season was a homegrown classification for youth players of foreign nationality who have spent a significant period developing in .
If a foreign player has been registered with a domestic amateur team for three consecutive years, or a total of five years, before signing their first professional contract, they are now classified as a domestic player and will not occupy a foreign player slot.
