Chapman eyes Korea return as Western exits looms

Defender Connor Chapman looks likely to have played his last game for Western United, with a January transfer window switch back to an unnamed club in South Korea close to being finalised.

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Chapman, 25, joined the A-League newcomers in March on a two-year year after exiting K1 League Pohang Steelers in acrimonious circumstances.

However, it appears a return to the K1 League, where he also spent a season with Incheon United in 2017, looks on the cards after just eight A-League appearances for Mark Rudan’s side, who are in action against Wellington Phoenix in Ballarat on Saturday evening.

It’s believed a fee has been agreed with Western, and Chapman will depart imminently to begin pre-season in Korea with the competition resuming in March.

Chapman, who can operate as a central defender or deep-lying midfielder, last made an appearance for Western in their 2-0 home loss to Sydney FC at the start of December.

The former Newcastle Jets utility spent three seasons on the Hunter and a further three years at Melbourne City before heading offshore for his first stint in South Korea.

His return to Australia to join Western came after a bizarre exit from Pohang, amid reports he was seeking to force a switch to Europe and was even infected by a brain parasite.

Chapman ridiculed those claims, insisting he never wanted to leave Korea in the first place and that a fallout with the club over his return from a stomach ailment ended with them ripping up his contract.

Chapman made 60 appearances across his spells with Incheon and Pohang.

Western United were approached for comment.