Celtic look set to be without Yang Hyun-jun for the first derby meeting of the season after the winger was confirmed as one of South Korea’s overage selections for the 2026 Asian Games.
South Korea have named Yang alongside Lee Gi-hyuk and Eom Ji-sung as their three permitted overage players for the tournament, which takes place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
While the call-up is a huge opportunity, it also creates a headache for Martin O’Neill.
The tournament overlaps with Celtic’s first Premiership meeting with Rangers, scheduled for Sunday, September 20 at Celtic Park.
Unless there is an unexpected change, Yang will be away on international duty and unavailable for one of the biggest fixtures of the domestic calendar.
🚨 | 𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐆𝐈-𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐊, 𝐄𝐎𝐌 𝐉𝐈-𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆 & 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐍-𝐉𝐔𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐒
Congrats to these lads for being selected in these coveted roles! 👏
The Asian games held in Aichi-Nagoya Japan this year from… pic.twitter.com/w2JZVPcWHS
— Joel Kim (@KNTFootball) July 7, 2026
It is, however, an opportunity few South Korean players would willingly pass up.
Winning gold at the Asian Games carries enormous significance, with the victorious squad earning exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service.
That incentive has often seen clubs lose key players during previous editions of the competition.
Yang enjoyed an encouraging campaign last season and developed into an increasingly important member of Celtic’s squad.
His absence against Rangers would remove another attacking option for the Scottish champions.
With the transfer window still open, the news may further underline the importance of adding depth to Celtic’s forward line before the season gets fully underway.
