Ji So-yun

❧

Wikipedia

Ji So-yun
Ji with Seattle Reign FC in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-21) 21 February 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea[1]
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham City
(on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
Number 91
Youth career
2006–2008 Dongsan Information Industry High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
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 39 (5)
2025– → Birmingham City (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2007–2008 South Korea U17 15 (11)
2007–2010 South Korea U20 17 (13)
2009 South Korea Universiade 4 (0)
2006– South Korea 169 (74)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  South Korea
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Bronze medal – third place2010 Germany
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place2009 Belgrade
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Runner-up2022 India
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place2010 Guangzhou
Bronze medal – third place2014 Incheon
Bronze medal – third place2018 Jakarta-Palembang
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Runner-up2009 China
EAFF Championship
Winner2025 South Korea
Bronze medal – third place2010 Japan
Bronze medal – third place2013 South Korea
Bronze medal – third place2022 Japan
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 September 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 July 2025
Ji So-yun
Hangul
지소연
Hanja
池笑然
RRJi Soyeon
MRChi Soyŏn

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 Women's Super League 2 club Birmingham City, on loan from Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League, and the South Korea national team.

Ji is the all-time top scorer of the South Korea women's national team with 74 goals.[2]

Club career

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.[3] She agreed to a two-year contract in January 2014.[4] 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."[5] 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.[6]

Ji was named Players' Player of the Year after her first season in England, as Chelsea narrowly missed out on the FA WSL 1 title on the last day of the season.[7] 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.[8][9]

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.[10] In October 2015 she also scored in Chelsea's 4–0 win over Sunderland which secured the club's first FA WSL 1 title and a league and cup double.[11]

Ji made her 100th appearance for Chelsea in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal on 1 April 2018 in the middle of the 2017–18 season.[12] She once again contributed to her club's double,[13] as well as advance to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League in that season.[14]

On 29 August 2020, Ji led Chelsea to a 2–0 win over Manchester City by performing the role of the key playmaker in the Women's FA Community Shield, held for the first time since 2008.[15] She was named the Player of the Match by BBC, which broadcast the match.[16] At the end of 2020, she was on the list of eleven nominees for The Best FIFA Women's Player award alongside her teammates Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr.[17] 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.[18] Chelsea won all domestic cups in addition to the league title during the season, achieving a quadruple.[19]

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.[20]

On 24 May 2022, Ji returned to her homeland and joined WK League side Suwon FC, her first spell with a South Korean club.[21] On her WK League debut on 18 August 2022, she scored a brace in a 3–0 victory against Boeun Sangmu.[22] She had helped Suwon advance to the final at the 2023 WK League, and scored two goals in a 3–1 first leg win over Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels.[23] Despite her effort, her club lost 7–5 on aggregate after the second leg.

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.[24]

International career

Ji represented South Korea at senior level before appearing at youth level. In October 2006, she 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.[25][2]

Ji played for the South Korea under-17s at the 2007 AFC U-16 Women's Championship and the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She scored two goals in four matches at the U-17 World Cup.[26]

Ji participated in the 2009 Summer Universiade when attending Hanyang Women's University. She won a gold medal and the Most Valuable Player award at the tournament.[27][28]

While Ji was part of the national under-20 team, South Korea finished second at the 2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship and third at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[25] She showed her goal scoring ability at both tournaments, becoming the top goalscorer at the AFC U-19 Championship and the second top goalscorer at the U-20 World Cup, ultimately winning the Silver Ball and the Silver Shoe awards at the U-20 World Cup.[28]

On 13 June 2015, Ji scored her first World Cup goal with a penalty kick in a Group E match against Costa Rica at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[29] After finishing as runners-up in Group E, South Korea reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

Ahead of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup final, Ji had scored four goals in the competition, including a crucial goal in a 1–0 win over Australia in the quarter-finals.[30] She also scored a penalty that gave South Korea a 2–0 lead at half-time in the final against China. South Korea came close to winning their first major women's football title, but the final ended in a 3–2 defeat after conceding three goals in the second half.[31]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 31 March 2025[32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental[c] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
INAC Kobe Leonessa 2011Nadeshiko League 16840———208
2012Nadeshiko League 1643063——257
2013Nadeshiko League 1694693—2[d]13119
Total 4821116156—217634
Chelsea 2014FA WSL 1 1232254——199
2015FA WSL 1 145434240—2610
2016FA WSL 1 165451020—2310
2017FA WSL 1 7432———106
2017–18FA WSL 1 146325163—2812
2018–19Women's Super League 176312082—309
2019–20Women's Super League 1362041——197
2020–21Women's Super League 1921040811[e]0333
2021–22Women's Super League 120421050—222
Total 1243726172683361021068
Suwon FC 2022WK League 55———1[f]166
2023WK League 183———3[f]2215
Total 238———432711
Seattle Reign FC 2024National Women's Soccer League 263———2[g]0283
2025National Women's Soccer League 31————31
Total 294———20314
Career total 224703723411433694344117

International

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[26]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
130 November 2006Doha, Qatar Chinese Taipei1–02–02006 Asian Games
22–0
317 February 2007Masan, South Korea India1–05–02008 Summer Olympics qualification
415 April 2007Hai Phong, Vietnam Vietnam1–12–12008 Summer Olympics qualification
52–1
612 August 2007Cheongju, South Korea Vietnam1–02–12008 Summer Olympics qualification
726 August 2009Tainan, Taiwan Northern Mariana Islands1–019–02010 EAFF Women's Championship qualification
811–0
912–0
1016–0
1119–0
1230 August 2009Tainan, Taiwan Chinese Taipei5–06–02010 EAFF Women's Championship qualification
1310 February 2010Tokyo, Japan China1–21–22010 EAFF Women's Championship
1414 November 2010Guangzhou, China Vietnam1–16–12010 Asian Games
1516 November 2010Guangzhou, China Jordan1–05–02010 Asian Games
162–0
175–0
1822 November 2010Guangzhou, China China2–02–02010 Asian Games
197 March 2011Paralimni, Cyprus Russia1–02–12011 Cyprus Women's Cup
2018 June 2011Ehime, Japan Japan1–11–1Friendly
213 September 2011Jinan, China Japan1–11–22012 Summer Olympics qualification
2214 January 2013Chongqing, China Canada2–03–1Friendly
236 March 2013Paralimni, Cyprus South Africa1–02–02013 Cyprus Women's Cup
248 March 2013Paralimni, Cyprus Northern Ireland1–03–02013 Cyprus Women's Cup
2527 July 2013Seoul, South Korea Japan1–02–12013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup
262–0
275 March 2014Paralimni, Cyprus Switzerland1–11–12014 Cyprus Women's Cup
287 March 2014Paralimni, Cyprus Republic of Ireland1–11–12014 Cyprus Women's Cup
2915 May 2014Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Myanmar1–012–02014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
3017 May 2014Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Thailand1–04–02014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
3112 November 2014Hsinchu, Taiwan Guam1–015–02015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualification
328–0
3315 November 2014Hsinchu, Taiwan Hong Kong1–09–02015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualification
3413 January 2015Shenzhen, China China2–23–2Friendly
3515 January 2015Shenzhen, China Mexico2–12–1Friendly
364 March 2015Nicosia, Cyprus Italy1–11–22015 Cyprus Women's Cup
375 April 2015Incheon, South Korea Russia1–01–0Friendly
388 April 2015Incheon, South Korea Russia2–02–0Friendly
3913 June 2015Montreal, Canada Costa Rica1–12–22015 FIFA Women's World Cup
403 March 2017Nicosia, Cyprus Scotland1–02–02017 Cyprus Women's Cup
416 March 2017Larnaca, Cyprus New Zealand2–02–02017 Cyprus Women's Cup
425 April 2017Pyongyang, North Korea India8–010–02018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
4310–0
4411 April 2017Pyongyang, North Korea Uzbekistan2–04–02018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
454–0
4619 August 2018Palembang, Indonesia Maldives1–08–02018 Asian Games
4721 August 2018Palembang, Indonesia Indonesia10–012–02018 Asian Games
4812–0
4931 August 2018Palembang, Indonesia Chinese Taipei1–04–02018 Asian Games
5028 February 2019Sydney, Australia Argentina4–05–02019 Cup of Nations
515–0
523 March 2019Brisbane, Australia Australia1–11–42019 Cup of Nations
536 March 2019Melbourne, Australia New Zealand1–02–02019 Cup of Nations
549 April 2019Chuncheon, South Korea Iceland1–11–1Friendly
556 October 2019Chicago, United States United States1–01–1Friendly
563 February 2020Seogwipo, South Korea Myanmar1–07–02020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
573–0
589 February 2020Seogwipo, South Korea Vietnam3–03–02020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
5917 September 2021Tashkent, Uzbekistan Mongolia5–012–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
6021 January 2022Pune, India Vietnam1–03–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
613–0
6224 January 2022Pune, India Myanmar2–02–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
6330 January 2022Pune, India Australia1–01–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
646 February 2022Navi Mumbai, India China2–02–32022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
6519 July 2022Kashima, Japan Japan1–11–22022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
6622 February 2023Bristol, England Italy1–11–22023 Arnold Clark Cup
678 July 2023Seoul, South Korea Haiti1–12–1Friendly
6822 September 2023Wenzhou, China Myanmar2–03–02022 Asian Games
6925 September 2023Wenzhou, China Philippines3–15–12022 Asian Games
7024 February 2024Oeiras, Portugal Czech Republic1–02–1Friendly
715 April 2024Icheon, South Korea Philippines2–03–0Friendly
7223 February 2025Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates Thailand3–04–02025 Pink Ladies Cup
739 July 2025Suwon, South Korea China2–22–22025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
7416 July 2025Suwon, South Korea Chinese Taipei1–02–02025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship

Honours

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Chelsea[32]

South Korea U20

South Korea Universiade[27]

South Korea

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Ji So-yun – Biography". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 각종기록 [Various records] (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "Chelsea Ladies sign South Korean midfielder Ji So-Yun". BBC Sport. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Bond, Steve (8 December 2013). "Chelsea Ladies lose to Inac Kobe Leonessa despite defiant late rally". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Chelsea's Ji So-Yun named WSL player's player of the year". BBC Sport. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "Who won what? PFA award winners in full". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun is the PFA Women's Player of the Year". Sky Sports. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Aloia, Andrew (1 August 2015). "How Chelsea won the Women's FA Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Garry, Tom (4 October 2015). "WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4–0 Sunderland Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ladies report: Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1". Chelsea F.C. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "We are the champions!". The Good Life Surbiton. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  14. ↑ "Lara Dickenmann's strike for Wolfsburg leaves Chelsea with mountain to climb". The Guardian. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  15. ↑ "Chelsea 2–0 Manchester City: Blues win Women's Community Shield". Sky Sports. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  16. ↑ "Watch: Women's Community Shield - Chelsea beat Man City". BBC Sport. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  17. ↑ "The Best FIFA Women's Player". FIFA. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (5 December 2021). "Kerr double finishes off Arsenal to land Chelsea FA Cup and domestic treble". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "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.
  21. ↑ "Ex-Chelsea FC Women star Ji So-yun signs with S. Korean club Suwon". Yonhap News Agency. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  22. ↑ 월드클래스의 강림, 지소연 수원FC '데뷔전 멀티골'. The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  23. ↑ '지소연 멀티골' 수원FC, 현대제철과의 WK리그 챔프전 1차전 3-1 역전승 (in Korean). News1. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "Seattle Reign FC Signs South Korean Midfielder Ji So-Yun". Seattle Reign FC. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  25. 1 2 [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.
  26. 1 2 "Ji So-yun" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  27. 1 2 제25회 베오그라드 하계유니버시아드대회 메달리스트 (in Korean). Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chelsea's South Korean star eyes World Cup success". FIFA. 31 March 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  29. ↑ "Karla Villalobos' late goal earns Costa Rica draw with South Korea". ESPN. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  30. ↑ "Ji focused on winning Korea Republic's maiden AFC Women's Asian Cup crown". Football Asian. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  31. ↑ "South Korea finishes runner-up at Women's Asian Cup". The Korea Times. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  32. 1 2 Ji So-yun at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  33. 1 2 3 "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Germany 2010". FIFA. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  34. ↑ "Universiade 2009". RSSSF. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  35. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (16 July 2025). "(2nd LD) S. Korea capture E. Asian women's football title with win over Chinese Taipei". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  36. ↑ "Asian Games 2010 (Women's Tournament)". RSSSF. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  37. ↑ "IFFHS ALL TIME ASIA WOMEN'S DREAM TEAM". IFFHS. 9 June 2021.
  38. ↑ "Son Heung-min, Ji So-yun win Korea's top football award, again". Korea JoongAng Daily. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  39. ↑ ‘올해의 선수’는 손흥민, 지소연...양민혁, 김신지는 ‘영플레이어’상 (in Korean). KFA. 31 March 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  40. ↑ WK리그 첫 시상식에 들뜬 지소연 "신인상, 조금 탐나긴 했죠". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 23 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  41. 1 2 지소연, WK리그 미드필더·도움상 석권…천가람은 신인상. Nate (in Korean). Star-in (Edaily). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  42. ↑ "「プレナスなでしこリーグ2012/プレナスチャレンジリーグ2012」表彰式" (in Japanese). Nadeshiko League. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  43. ↑ "プレナスなでしこリーグ2013/プレナスチャレンジリーグ2013表彰式 受賞結果" (in Japanese). Nadeshiko League. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  44. ↑ "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  45. ↑ "Manchester City players dominate PFA team of the year". BBC Sport. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  46. ↑ "PFA Women's Team of the Year: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate". The Guardian. Press Association. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  47. ↑ "De Bruyne named PFA Player of the Year". BBC Sport. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  48. ↑ "The Award Winners 2015". London Football Awards. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2025.