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Ji So-yun

South Korean footballer (born 1991) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 WK League club Suwon FC and the South Korea national team. She is South Korea's all-time top goalscorer, with 75 goals.[2]

Date of birth (1991-02-21) 21 February 1991 (age 35)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea[1]
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position Midfielder
Quick facts Personal information, Date of birth ...
Ji So-yun
Ji with Seattle Reign FC in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-21) 21 February 1991 (age 35)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea[1]
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Suwon FC
Number 10
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)
2024–2025 Seattle Reign FC 39 (5)
2025 → Birmingham City (loan) 10 (1)
2026– Suwon FC
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 176 (75)
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 6 January 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 June 2026
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Hangul
지소연
Hanja
池笑然
RRJi Soyeon
MRChi Soyŏn
Quick facts Hangul, Hanja ...
Ji So-yun
Hangul
지소연
Hanja
池笑然
RRJi Soyeon
MRChi Soyŏn
Close

Early life

Ji grew up in Imun-dong, Seoul, where she lived in government-subsidised housing with her mother, Kim Ae-ri, and younger brother.[3] Her parents divorced when she was in elementary school.[3] Ji's mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer for which she underwent surgery in 2002, and has also received treatment for ovarian tumours and chronic pain, which forced her to give up work.[4][5] As a result the family received government benefits and struggled financially.[6] When Ji's family background later became publicly known, she received grants from Dongdaemun Police Station and Dongdaemun District Office.[7][8] Ji's parents, particularly her father, initially objected to her pursuing a career in football.[9][10] However, she was encouraged to play by the owner of a local bunsik shop.[11][12][13]

As a middle schooler, Ji was involved in a fight in which her school's players physically assaulted girls from a rival football team.[3] Ji's family was one of several which had to pay compensation.[10] Her mother has cited this incident as a turning point for Ji, who became determined to support her family through playing football rather than adding to their financial burdens.[10]

Youth career

In 1998, when Ji was in the second grade at Imun Elementary School, she caught the attention of coach Kim Kwang-yeol, who suggested she join the football academy at the school.[14] Kim had thought she was a boy and only realised she was a girl when he saw her resident registration number on the application form, but considered it a waste of Ji's talent if she were unable to play, so invited her to play for the boys' team anyway.[15] Ji was the only girl on the team.[16][17] She appeared in the television show Let's Go! Dream Team that saw elementary schoolers take on professional football players in a penalty shoot-out.[18] Even as a fifth grader, she was regularly included in Imun's starting XI alongside older boys, and coaches considered her to be several years ahead of her male peers, none of whom went on to play football professionally.[19]

After graduating from elementary school, Ji finally had the opportunity to play for an elite girls' team as she attended Oju Middle School in Seoul's Songpa District, where Choi In-cheol was the girls' football coach.[20] She soon earned a reputation as the best emerging talent in South Korean women's football, playing a key role for Oju as the team won nine domestic tournaments in a row, and achieved a record 60-match unbeaten streak.[21][22]

Choi In-cheol left Oju in 2004 to manage the girls' football team at Dongsan Information Industry High School, and upon graduating from middle school Ji followed him there in 2006.[23] The same year, Ji became a household name as the youngest football player ever to represent South Korea at senior level.[11] Following her breakout performances at international level, she was shortlisted for AFC Women's Youth Player of the Year in 2007.[24][25]

Ji was a star player for her high school team, scoring goals in important matches including the final of the 2008 Spring Championship, in which Dongsan beat Hyundai High School 3–0.[26][27][28] She scored four of Dongsan's goals in the final of the 2008 Chunghakgi National Girls' Football Festival, which saw the team beat Incheon Design High School 7–1.[29] In the same year she became the first woman to play in a charity match annually held for children with cancer and teenage breadwinners by Hong Myung-bo.[30][31][32] As she reached the end of her high school career, Ji considered going directly into works football but decided to go to college to continue developing as a player before signing with a club.[33] She had received interest from several clubs but Choi In-cheol encouraged her to go to college, partly to protect her from the controversy and media attention that had surrounded Park Eun-sun when she signed with Seoul City directly from high school a few years earlier.[34]

Club career

Ji with Chelsea in 2014

Ji had long hoped to play in the United States but considering a potential move too risky, she decided to sign a contract with Nadeshiko League side INAC Kobe Leonessa, initially joining the club for one year.[35] Ji played for INAC Kobe for three years, making 48 appearances and scoring 21 goals in total, helping the side to win three consecutive Nadeshiko League titles.[36][37] She was named in the league's Best XI in 2012 and 2013.[38]

In November 2013, Ji was subject to a transfer bid from English club Chelsea.[39] She agreed to a two-year contract in January 2014.[40] 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."[41] 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.[42]

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.[43] 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.[44][45]

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.[46] 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.[47]

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.[48] She once again contributed to her club's double,[49] as well as helped them advance to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League in that season.[50]

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.[51] She was named the Player of the Match by BBC, which broadcast the match.[52] 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.[53] 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.[54] Chelsea won all domestic cups in addition to the league title during the season, achieving a quadruple.[55]

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.[56]

On 24 May 2022, Ji returned to her homeland and joined WK League side Suwon FC, her first spell with a South Korean club.[57] On her WK League debut on 18 August 2022, she scored a brace in a 3–0 victory against Boeun Sangmu.[58] 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.[59] 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.[60]

After spending two seasons with the Reign, including a loan spell at Women's Super League 2 club Birmingham City, Ji rejoined her former club Suwon FC in January 2026.[61] During the 2025–26 AFC Women's Champions League, she scored the opener in the 4–0 quarter-final win over Wuhan Jianghan University,[62] but missed a penalty in the 2–1 semi-final loss to North Korean club Naegohyang.[63]

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.[64][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.[65]

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.[66][67]

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.[64] 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.[67]

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.[68] 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.[69] 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.[70]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 31 March 2025[71]
More information Club, Season ...
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
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International

Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ji goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Ji So-yun[65]
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
7514 March 2026Sydney, Australia Uzbekistan4–06–02026 AFC Women's Asian Cup
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Honours

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Chelsea[71]

South Korea U20

South Korea Universiade[66]

South Korea

Individual

Records

  • South Korea all-time appearance leader: 176 appearances
  • South Korea all-time top goalscorer: 75 goals

References

External links

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