Kim Kee-hee
South Korean footballer (born 1989)
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Kim Kee-hee (Korean: 김기희; Korean pronunciation: [kim.ɡi.ɦi] or [kim] [ki.ɦi]; born 13 July 1989) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. He can also be fielded as a defensive midfielder. Kim has played for teams in the K-League, Qatar Stars League, Chinese Super League and Major League Soccer. He has also represented South Korea at the national level.
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Kim in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 July 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Busan, South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2007 | Bukyeong High School | ||
| 2008–2010 | Hongik University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2013 | Daegu FC | 29 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | → Al-Sailiya (loan) | 20 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 80 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Shanghai Shenhua | 45 | (2) |
| 2018–2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | 59 | (0) |
| 2020–2024 | Ulsan Hyundai | 112 | (1) |
| 2025– | Seattle Sounders FC | 9 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011–2012 | South Korea U23 | 5 | (2) |
| 2012–2017 | South Korea | 23 | (0) |
Medal record | |||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 07:10, 20 June 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 October 2017 | |||
Club career
Daegu
Kim initially played University League at Hongik University from 2008 to 2010. Kim was then drafted in the second round of the 2011 K-League draft by Daegu FC.[2] Kim made his professional debut on 5 March 2011, playing the full 90 minutes of Daegu's opening game of the 2011 K-League season against Gwangju FC, which ended in a 2–3 loss for Daegu FC.[3]
Loan to Al-Sailiya
On 26 September 2012, Kim joined the newly promoted Qatar Stars League club Al-Sailiya on a loan deal.[4]
Jeonbuk Hyundai
Kim joined fellow K-League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2013 and would help the team to win two successive K-League titles.
Shanghai Shenhua
On 19 February 2016, Kim moved to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for a reported transfer fee of US$6 million. Kim's agent had described the deal as the "biggest transfer in Korean history".[5] On 5 March 2016, he made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Yanbian Funde.
Seattle Sounders FC
On 27 February 2018, Kim was signed by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer using targeted allocation money.[6] He won MLS Cup 2019 with Seattle and planned to sign a new contract for the 2020 season, but was unable to come to financial terms with the club.[7]
Ulsan Hyundai
On 26 February 2020, Kim was signed by Ulsan Hyundai of K League 1.
Return to Seattle Sounders FC
On 28 January 2025, Kim rejoined Seattle Sounders FC on a one-year contract with an option for the following season. He is expected to be used as a rotation player behind the starting center-backs due to the team's participation in multiple competitions.[8]
International career
In 2011, Kim was selected for the South Korea U-23 national team that participated in the 2012 King's Cup, an annual tournament held in Thailand.[9]
In 2012, Kim won the bronze medal with South Korea U-23 in the 2012 London Olympics, which was the first Olympic medal ever in Korean football history, and he was granted exemption to two years of mandatory military service like the rest of the team.[10][11]
Career statistics
- As of match played 19 June 2025[12]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Daegu FC | 2011 | K-League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 2 | ||||
| Al-Sailiya SC | 2012–13 | Qatar Stars League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2013 | K League Classic | 19 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2014 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7[c] | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[c] | 1 | — | 42 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 80 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 15 | 1 | — | 100 | 2 | ||||
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2016 | Chinese Super League | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1[c] | 0 | — | 17 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 50 | 2 | ||||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2018 | Major League Soccer | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4[d] | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 66 | 0 | |||
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2020 | K League 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[c] | 1 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[c] | 0 | 2[e] | 1 | 48 | 2 | |||
| 2022 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | |||||
| 2023 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[c] | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | ||||
| 2024 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 112 | 1 | 9 | 0 | — | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 146 | 3 | |||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Career total | 354 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 421 | 9 | ||
- Includes Korean FA Cup, Chinese FA Cup, U.S. Open Cup
- Includes Korean League Cup
- Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League
- Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
- Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup
Honours
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
Seattle Sounders FC
Ulsan Hyundai
- K League 1: 2022, 2023, 2024
- AFC Champions League: 2020
South Korea U23
- Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medal: 2012
South Korea
Individual
