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Ji So-yun

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In this Korean name, the family name is Ji.

Ji So-yun (Korean: 지소연, Korean pronunciation: [tɕi.so.jʌn]; born 21 February 1991) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the South Korea national team.

Ji So-yun
Ji with the Seattle Reign in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-21) 21 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea[1]
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Seattle Reign FC
Number 91
Youth career
2006–2008 Dongsan Info & Industry HS
2009–2010 Hanyang Women's University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 INAC Kobe Leonessa 48 (21)
2014–2022 Chelsea 124 (37)
2022–2024 Suwon FC 23 (8)
2024– Seattle Reign FC 19 (3)
International career‡
2007–2008 South Korea U17 15 (11)
2007–2010 South Korea U20 17 (13)
2006– South Korea 160 (71)
Medal record
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2009 Belgrade Team
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Guangzhou Team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Incheon Team
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 June 2024
Ji So-yun
Hangul
지소연
Hanja
池笑然
Revised RomanizationJi Soyeon
McCune–ReischauerChi Soyŏn

Club career

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Ji with Chelsea in 2014

Ji started her career in Japan, playing for Nadeshiko League champions INAC Kobe Leonessa between 2011 and 2013. In November 2013, Ji was subject to a transfer bid from English club Chelsea.[2] She agreed to a two-year contract in January 2014.[3] When the transfer was officially confirmed later that month, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said of Ji: "She is one of the best midfielders in the world and our fans will love her."[4] In one of her final matches for the Japanese club, Ji scored against her soon-to-be new club, Chelsea, in the International Women's Club Championship final.[5]

Ji was named Players' Player of the Year after her first season in England, as Chelsea narrowly missed out on the FA WSL 1 league title on the last day of the season.[6] She was named PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year in April 2015 and was also named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year.[7][8]

In the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final, staged at Wembley Stadium for the first time, Ji scored the only goal of the match to win the Cup for Chelsea.[9] In October 2015 she also scored in Chelsea's 4–0 win over Sunderland which secured the club's first FA WSL title and a League and Cup double.[10]

On 1 April 2018, Ji made her 100th appearance for Chelsea in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal.[11]

In the light of her performances for Chelsea over the years and the instrumental role she played in Chelsea's 2020–21 FA WSL winning team, Suzanne Wrack of The Guardian claimed that Ji was the best foreign player in the history of WSL.[12]

After spending eight years with Chelsea, Ji left the club following the 2021–22 season. She made over 200 appearances and scored 68 goals in all competitions, and won six league titles, four FA Cups, two league cups, and one Community Shield.[13]

On 24 May 2022, Ji returned to her homeland and joined WK League side Suwon FC, her first spell with a South Korean club.[14] On her WK League debut on 18 August 2022, she scored a brace in a 3–0 victory against Boeun Sangmu.[15]

On 24 January 2024, the National Women's Soccer League club Seattle Reign FC announced that they had signed Ji on a two-year contract through the 2025 season.[16]

International career

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Ji represented South Korea at under-17 level and was part of the under-20 team that finished as runners-up at the 2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship, and in third place at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[17]

In October 2006, Ji made her senior team debut while playing at the 2006 Peace Queen Cup. On 30 November 2006, she became the youngest goalscorer (15 years, 282 days) for the South Korean senior team after scoring two goals against Chinese Taipei at the 2006 Asian Games.[17][18]

Ji is the all-time top scorer of the South Korea women's national team with 71 goals.[18]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 25 November 2023[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] International[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
INAC Kobe Leonessa 2011 Nadeshiko League 16 8 4 0 — — — 20 8
2012 16 4 3 0 6 3 — — 25 7
2013 16 9 4 6 9 3 2 1 — 31 19
Total 48 21 11 6 15 6 2 1 — 76 34
Chelsea 2014 FA WSL 12 3 2 2 5 4 — — 19 9
2015 14 5 4 3 4 2 4 0 — 26 10
2016 16 5 4 5 1 0 2 0 — 23 10
2017 7 4 3 2 — — — 10 6
2017–18 14 6 3 2 5 1 6 3 — 28 12
2018–19 17 6 3 1 2 0 8 2 — 30 9
2019–20 13 6 2 0 4 1 — — 19 7
2020–21 19 2 1 0 4 0 8 1 1 0 33 3
2021–22 12 0 4 2 1 0 5 0 — 22 2
Total 124 37 26 17 26 8 33 6 1 0 210 68
Suwon FC 2022 WK League 5 5 — — — 1 1 6 6
2023 18 3 — — — 3 2 21 5
Total 23 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 27 11
Career total 195 66 37 23 41 14 35 7 5 3 313 113
  1. ^ Includes Empress's Cup and Women's FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Nadeshiko League Cup and FA WSL Cup
  3. ^ Includes International Women's Club Championship and UEFA Women's Champions League
  4. ^ Includes Women's FA Community Shield and WK League play-offs

International

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Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ji goal.
List of international goals scored by Ji So-yun
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 30 November 2006 Doha, Qatar   Chinese Taipei 1–0 2–0 2006 Asian Games
2 2–0
3 17 February 2007 Masan, South Korea   India 1–0 5–0 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers
4 15 April 2007 Hai Phong, Vietnam   Vietnam 1–1 2–1 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers
5 2–1
6 12 August 2007 Cheongju, South Korea   Vietnam 1–0 2–1 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers
7 26 August 2009 Tainan, Taiwan   Northern Mariana Islands 1–0 19–0 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers
8 11–0
9 12–0
10 16–0
11 19–0
12 30 August 2009 Tainan, Taiwan   Chinese Taipei 5–0 6–0 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers
13 10 February 2010 Tokyo, Japan   China 1–2 1–2 2010 EAFF Women's Championship
14 14 November 2010 Guangzhou, China   Vietnam 1–1 6–1 2010 Asian Games
15 16 November 2010 Guangzhou, China   Jordan 1–0 5–0 2010 Asian Games
16 2–0
17 5–0
18 22 November 2010 Guangzhou, China   China 2–0 2–0 2010 Asian Games
19 7 March 2011 Paralimni, Cyprus   Russia 1–0 2–1 2011 Cyprus Women's Cup
20 18 June 2011 Ehime, Japan   Japan 1–1 1–1 Friendly
21 3 September 2011 Jinan, China   Japan 1–1 1–2 2012 Summer Olympics Qualifiers
22 14 January 2013 Chongqing, China   Canada 2–0 3–1 Friendly
23 6 March 2013 Paralimni, Cyprus   South Africa 1–0 2–0 2013 Cyprus Women's Cup
24 8 March 2013 Paralimni, Cyprus   Northern Ireland 1–0 3–0 2013 Cyprus Women's Cup
25 27 July 2013 Seoul, South Korea   Japan 1–0 2–1 2013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup
26 2–0
27 5 March 2014 Paralimni, Cyprus   Switzerland 1–1 1–1 2014 Cyprus Women's Cup
28 7 March 2014 Paralimni, Cyprus   Republic of Ireland 1–1 1–1 2014 Cyprus Women's Cup
29 15 May 2014 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Myanmar 1–0 12–0 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
30 17 May 2014 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Thailand 1–0 4–0 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
31 12 November 2014 Hsinchu, Taiwan   Guam 1–0 15–0 2015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualifiers
32 8–0
33 15 November 2014 Hsinchu, Taiwan   Hong Kong 1–0 9–0 2015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualifiers
34 13 January 2015 Shenzhen, China   China 2–2 3–2 Friendly
35 15 January 2015 Shenzhen, China   Mexico 2–1 2–1 Friendly
36 4 March 2015 Nicosia, Cyprus   Italy 1–1 1–2 2015 Cyprus Women's Cup
37 5 April 2015 Incheon, South Korea   Russia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
38 8 April 2015 Incheon, South Korea   Russia 2–0 2–0 Friendly
39 13 June 2015 Montreal, Canada   Costa Rica 1–1 2–2 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
40 3 March 2017 Nicosia, Cyprus   Scotland 1–0 2–0 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup
41 6 March 2017 Larnaca, Cyprus   New Zealand 2–0 2–0 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup
42 5 April 2017 Pyongyang, North Korea   India 8–0 10–0 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
43 10–0
44 11 April 2017 Pyongyang, North Korea   Uzbekistan 2–0 4–0 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
45 4–0
46 19 August 2018 Palembang, Indonesia   Maldives 1–0 8–0 2018 Asian Games
47 21 August 2018 Palembang, Indonesia   Indonesia 10–0 12–0 2018 Asian Games
48 12–0
49 31 August 2018 Palembang, Indonesia   Chinese Taipei 1–0 4–0 2018 Asian Games
50 28 February 2019 Sydney, Australia   Argentina 4–0 5–0 2019 Cup of Nations
51 5–0
52 3 March 2019 Brisbane, Australia   Australia 1–1 1–4 2019 Cup of Nations
53 6 March 2019 Melbourne, Australia   New Zealand 1–0 2–0 2019 Cup of Nations
54 9 April 2019 Chuncheon, South Korea   Iceland 1–1 1–1 Friendly
55 6 October 2019 Chicago, United States   United States 1–0 1–1 Friendly
56 3 February 2020 Seogwipo, South Korea   Myanmar 1–0 7–0 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Third round
57 3–0
58 9 February 2020 Seogwipo, South Korea   Vietnam 3–0 3–0 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Third round
59 17 September 2021 Tashkent, Uzbekistan   Mongolia 5–0 12–0 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
60 21 January 2022 Pune, India   Vietnam 1–0 3–0 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
61 3–0
62 24 January 2022 Pune, India   Myanmar 2–0 2–0 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
63 30 January 2022 Pune, India   Australia 1–0 1–0 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
64 6 February 2022 Navi Mumbai, India   China 2–0 2–3 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
65 19 July 2022 Kashima, Japan   Japan 1–1 1–2 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
66 22 February 2023 Bristol, England   Italy 1–1 1–2 2023 Arnold Clark Cup
67 8 July 2023 Seoul, South Korea   Haiti 1–1 2–1 Friendly
68 22 September 2023 Wenzhou, China   Myanmar 2–0 3–0 2022 Asian Games
69 25 September 2023 Wenzhou, China   Philippines 3–1 5–1 2022 Asian Games
70 24 February 2024 Oeiras, Portugal   Czech Republic 1–0 2–1 Friendly
71 5 April 2024 Icheon, South Korea   Philippines 2–0 3–0 Friendly

Honours

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INAC Kobe Leonessa

Chelsea

South Korea U20

South Korea Universiade

South Korea

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ji So-yun – Biography". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Chelsea Ladies FC interested in signing Ji So-yeon". Arirang. 29 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Korean footballer Ji So-yun to sign two-year deal with Chelsea Ladies". Arirang. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Chelsea Ladies sign South Korean midfielder Ji So-Yun". BBC Sport. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  5. ^ Bond, Steve (8 December 2013). "Chelsea Ladies lose to Inac Kobe Leonessa despite defiant late rally". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Chelsea's Ji So-Yun named WSL player's player of the year". BBC Sport. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Who won what? PFA award winners in full". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun is the PFA Women's Player of the Year". Sky Sports. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  9. ^ Aloia, Andrew (1 August 2015). "How Chelsea won the Women's FA Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  10. ^ Garry, Tom (4 October 2015). "WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4–0 Sunderland Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Ladies report: Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1". Chelsea F.C. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  12. ^ Wrack, Suzanne (10 May 2021). "'A formidable partnership': player ratings for Chelsea's WSL title winners". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Ji So-yun makes final appearance in a Chelsea shirt as club wins FA Cup final". Korea JoongAng Daily. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Ex-Chelsea FC Women star Ji So-yun signs with S. Korean club Suwon". Yonhap News Agency. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  15. ^ "월드클래스의 강림, 지소연 수원FC '데뷔전 멀티골'". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Seattle Reign FC Signs South Korean Midfielder Ji So-Yun". Seattle Reign FC. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b "[한국축구유망주60] 지소연: 여자축구의 미래이자 희망" [Ji So Yeon & apos; Future of women's football and hope] (in Korean). Korea Football Association. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  18. ^ a b c "각종기록" [Various records]. kfa.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Ji So-yun profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  20. ^ a b c "Chelsea's South Korean star eyes World Cup success". FIFA. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Son Heung-min, Ji So-yun win Korea's top football award, again". Korea JoongAng Daily. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  22. ^ "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  23. ^ "PFA Women's Team of the Year: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate". The Guardian. Press Association. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  24. ^ "IFFHS ALL TIME ASIA WOMEN'S DREAM TEAM". IFFHS. 9 June 2021.
  25. ^ "WK리그 첫 시상식에 들뜬 지소연 "신인상, 조금 탐나긴 했죠"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 23 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
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