Kwon Hyeok-kyu

In this Korean name, the family name is Kwon.

Kwon Hyeok-kyu (Korean: 권혁규; born 13 March 2001) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Nantes.

Kwon Hyeok-kyu

Kwon training with Celtic in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-03-13) 13 March 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth	Busan, South Korea
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Nantes
Number	5
Youth career
2010–2019	Busan IPark
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2023	Busan IPark	43	(3)
2021–2022	→ Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)	33	(0)
2023–2025	Celtic	0	(0)
2024	→ St Mirren (loan)	8	(0)
2024–2025	→ Hibernian (loan)	21	(0)
2025–	Nantes	2	(0)
International career‡
2015	South Korea U14	4	(0)
2016–2018	South Korea U17	14	(2)
2019	South Korea U20	7	(3)
2021–	South Korea U23	14	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Kwon Hyeok-kyu
Hangul	권혁규
Hanja	權赫圭
RR	Gwon Hyeokgyu
MR	Kwŏn Hyŏkkyu

Club career

Kwon started playing football at under-12 team of K League club Busan IPark in 2010, playing for Busan's youth teams for 10 years.^[1] On 16 July 2019, Kwon was promoted to Busan's senior team.^[2] On 14 September, he made his professional debut as a starting central midfielder in a K League 2 match against Jeonnam Dragons.^[3] Busan was promoted to the K League 1 at the end of the season, and so he became a first division player the next season.

In April 2021, Kwon was enlisted in military team Gimcheon Sangmu, performing his mandatory military service for one and a half years.^[4] He won the K League 2 title as he played as a defensive midfielder for Sangmu that year.^[5] On 7 September 2022, he returned to Busan by being discharged from the military service.^[6]

Kwon received an offer from Scottish Premiership club Celtic in December 2022,^[7] and their deal was done in July 2023. On 24 July, Celtic announced that he had signed on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.^[8] He said his ambition to become Celtic's best player and advance to the Bundesliga or the Premier League in an interview with Busan Ilbo before the transfer.^[9][10] His interview embarrassed Celtic supporters, but there was also a positive view that he was a honest player who set a clear goal.^[11]

Kwon had failed to make his debut at Celtic and was loaned to St Mirren from January to May 2024 and Hibernian in the 2024–25 season.^[12][13] At the two Scottish clubs, he made 29 Premiership appearances, but had a hard time with two injuries.^[14][15]

On 25 July 2025, Kwon signed a three-year contract with Ligue 1 club Nantes.^[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of 24 August 2025^[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Busan IPark	2019	K League 2	2	0	0	0	—		2	0
	2020	K League 1	16	1	1	0	—		17	1
	2022	K League 2	5	0	2	0	—		7	0
	2023	K League 2	20	2	0	0	—		20	2
	Total		43	3	3	0	—		46	3
Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)	2021	K League 2	14	0	1	0	—		15	0
	2022	K League 1	19	0	0	0	—		19	0
	Total		33	0	1	0	—		34	0
St Mirren (loan)	2023–24	Scottish Premiership	8	0	1	0	0	0	9	0
Hibernian (loan)	2024–25	Scottish Premiership	21	0	1	0	0	0	22	0
Nantes	2025–26	Ligue 1	2	0	0	0	—		2	0
Career total			107	3	6	0	0	0	113	3

1. Includes Korean FA Cup, Scottish Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup

Honours

Gimcheon Sangmu

• K League 2: 2021^[5]