High Schooler Joins Dutch Soccer Giant Ajax

High school sensation Suk Hyun-jun has joined the Dutch soccer giant Ajax Amsterdam, the team said yesterday on its home page.

“Suk will play for the club from January 2010 to June 30, 2011,” Ajax said, adding he also has the option of playing an additional year.

The 18-year-old striker will be the eighth Korean to play in the Netherlands, following Huh Jung-moo, Song Jong-gug, Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo, Lee Chun-soo, Kim Nam-il and Noh Jung-yoon.

Suk attended Baekam Middle School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and is a senior at Shingal High School.

Standing 190 centimeters (6-feet-3) and weighing 83 kilograms (183 pounds), he is known as physically gifted with strong sense for the sport.

He has played for Korea in different age groups in drawing keen attention as a promising player.

niceshin@donga.com