Asian Cup star Ja Cheol Koo joins Wolfsburg, but FIFA investigates

21 year old South Korean midfielder Ja Cheol Koo, one of the star performers for his nation in the recently held 2011 AFC Asian Cup, has signed a three and a half year contract with German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. Ja Cheol had made a mark in the tournament in Qatar by ending as its top scorer scoring five goals.

Ja Cheol said after the signing, "Now I will concentrate on playing well out there. Young Pyo Lee and many national team mates advised me to play in Europe."

And Ja Cheol Koo happens to be the second Asian footballer at the North German club after Japan captain Makoto Hasebe, who joined the club three years back.

But world football governing body FIFA is investigating Wolfsburg's signing of Ja Cheol Koo, after Swiss club Young Boys Berne thought it had a deal for the South Korea international. FIFA says the Switzerland Football Association is seeking clarification of Koo's international clearance to play in Germany.

The Swiss 'Axpo Super League' club Young Boys believed it had agreement with Koo's Korean club Jeju United before the start of the Asian Cup, but that is something which the player denies and he flew to Germany to sign a contract with Wolfsburg before returning to South Korea. FIFA says that the transfer to Wolfsburg was approved through its online transfer system which requires consent from both clubs - the selling and buying clubs.