Ji So-yun

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.

In this Korean name, the family name is Ji.
Ji So-yun
Ji in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-21) 21 February 1991
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea[1]
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Suwon FC
Number 10
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– Suwon FC 23 (8)
International career‡
2007–2008 South Korea U17 15 (11)
2007–2010 South Korea U20 17 (13)
2006– South Korea 152 (69)
Medal record
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place2009 BelgradeTeam
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place2010 GuangzhouTeam
Bronze medal – third place2014 IncheonTeam
Bronze medal – third place2018 Jakarta-PalembangTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 August 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 October 2023
Ji So-yun
Hangul
지소연
Hanja
池笑然
Revised RomanizationJi Soyeon
McCune–ReischauerChi Soyŏn

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.[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]

International career

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.[16]

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.[16][17]

Ji is the all-time top scorer of the South Korea women's national team with 69 goals.[17]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 29 August 2023[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] International[lower-alpha 3] Other[lower-alpha 4] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
INAC Kobe Leonessa 2011 Nadeshiko League 16840———208
2012 1643063——257
2013 169469321—3119
Total 482111615621—7634
Chelsea 2014 FA WSL 1232254——199
2015 145434240—2610
2016 165451020—2310
2017 7432———106
2017–18 146325163—2812
2018–19 176312082—309
2019–20 1362041——197
2020–21 19210408110333
2021–22 120421050—222
Total 1243726172683361021068
Suwon FC 2022 WK League 55———1166
2023 183————183
Total 23800000011249
Career total 195663723411435721310111
  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
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
130 November 2006Doha, Qatar Chinese Taipei1–02–02006 Asian Games
22–0
317 February 2007Masan, South Korea India1–05–02008 Summer Olympics qualifiers
415 April 2007Hai Phong, Vietnam Vietnam1–12–12008 Summer Olympics qualifiers
52–1
612 August 2007Cheongju, South Korea Vietnam1–02–12008 Summer Olympics qualifiers
726 August 2009Tainan, Taiwan Northern Mariana Islands1–019–02010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers
811–0
912–0
1016–0
1119–0
1230 August 2009Tainan, Taiwan Chinese Taipei5–06–02010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers
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 Qualifiers
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 qualifiers
328–0
3315 November 2014Hsinchu, Taiwan Hong Kong1–09–02015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualifiers
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 – Third round
573–0
589 February 2020Seogwipo, South Korea Vietnam3–03–02020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Third round
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

Honours

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Chelsea

South Korea U20

South Korea Universiade

South Korea

Individual

References
  1. "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. "Chelsea's Ji So-Yun named WSL player's player of the year". BBC Sport. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  7. "Who won what? PFA award winners in full". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. "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". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 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'". hani.co.kr (in Korean). 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  16. "[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.
  17. "각종기록" [Various records]. kfa.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  18. "Ji So-yun profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  19. "Chelsea's South Korean star eyes World Cup success". FIFA. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  20. "Son Heung-min, Ji So-yun win Korea's top football award, again". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  21. "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  22. "PFA Women's Team of the Year: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate". The Guardian. Press Association. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  23. "IFFHS ALL TIME ASIA WOMEN'S DREAM TEAM". IFFHS. 9 June 2021.
  24. "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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