K-League Football Teams to Watch: Predictions for the 24-25 Season

The 24/25 season of the K League has officially begun. Accounting for the FIFA Club World Cup schedule, this year’s season has opened earlier in February. The end of April marks the passage of one-third of the season. As the league nears the halfway mark, which team is on our radar?

Daejeon Hana Citizen seems a promising candidate. Last season, Daejeon finished a disappointing eighth place out of twelve teams, a result of their consistent struggle to escape the relegation zone. Right now, the team’s runs remain fourth in the league. Despite boasting an excellent defense, they remain in the bottom half, a state attributed to their low score ranking. With just six goals from their top scorer, Daejeon's offensive struggles this season have been laid bare. 

In an effort to turn things around, Daejeon recently bolstered its squad with six first-team signings — a move that has already yielded promising results. Notable additions include Victor Bobsin, Park Kyu-hyun, national team striker Joo Min-kyu, and former Pohang winger Jung Jae-hee. 

Despite recording the third-fewest goals in the league, striker Joo Min-kyu has netted eight goals in just 11 matches, playing a pivotal role in the team’s resurgence. Daejeon boasts an impressive 7 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, collecting 23 points with a win rate nearing 70% and averaging over two points per game. This marks a significant improvement from last season, when the team posted a 41% win rate and averaged 1.6 points per match. With this momentum, Daejeon finds itself at the very top of the rankings. 

Eagle-eyed football fans are anticipating a continued winning streak for Daejeon, as the team has addressed weaknesses through a successful transfer market, bringing in valuable players, and maintaining a bulletproof defense. Whether Daejeon can dethrone neck-and-neck champions Jeonbuk Hyundai and Ulsan remains to be seen.  

Winning the K-League is no easy feat. Last season, Gangwon rode a similar high to Daejeon, but ended up finishing second. Daejeon should keep an eye out for Jeonbuk Hyundai. Jeonbuk has recovered from its slump last season, ranking just below Daejeon in second place. Right now, it’s anyone’s game.