# Ji So-yun

Ji So-yun (Korean: 지소연, Korean pronunciation:; 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.

## Club career

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. She agreed to a two-year contract in January 2014. 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." 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
On 1 April 2018, Ji made her 100th appearance for Chelsea in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal.
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.
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.
On 24 May 2022, Ji returned to her homeland and joined WK League side Suwon FC, her first spell with a South Korean club. On her WK League debut on 18 August 2022, she scored a brace in a 3–0 victory against Boeun Sangmu.
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.

## 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.
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.
Ji is the all-time top scorer of the South Korea women's national team with 72 goals.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 25 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | International | International | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | 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 |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2012 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 7 |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2013 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 19 |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | Total | Total | 48 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 76 | 34 |
| Chelsea | 2014 | FA WSL | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 9 |
| Chelsea | 2015 | FA WSL | 14 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 10 |
| Chelsea | 2016 | FA WSL | 16 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 10 |
| Chelsea | 2017 | FA WSL | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 6 |
| Chelsea | 2017–18 | FA WSL | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 28 | 12 |
| Chelsea | 2018–19 | FA WSL | 17 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 30 | 9 |
| Chelsea | 2019–20 | FA WSL | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 7 |
| Chelsea | 2020–21 | FA WSL | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 3 |
| Chelsea | 2021–22 | FA WSL | 12 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 |
| Chelsea | Total | Total | 124 | 37 | 26 | 17 | 26 | 8 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 210 | 68 |
| Suwon FC | 2022 | WK League | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Suwon FC | 2023 | WK League | 18 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 21 | 5 |
| Suwon FC | Total | Total | 23 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 195 | 66 | 37 | 23 | 41 | 14 | 35 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 313 | 113 |
* ↑ Includes Empress's Cup and Women's FA Cup
* ↑ Includes Nadeshiko League Cup and FA WSL Cup
* ↑ Includes International Women's Club Championship and UEFA Women's Champions League
* ↑ 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 |
| 1 | 30 November 2006 | Doha, Qatar | Chinese Taipei | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 2 | 30 November 2006 | Doha, Qatar | Chinese Taipei | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 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 | 15 April 2007 | Hai Phong, Vietnam | Vietnam | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers |
| 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 | 26 August 2009 | Tainan, Taiwan | Northern Mariana Islands | 11–0 | 19–0 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers |
| 9 | 26 August 2009 | Tainan, Taiwan | Northern Mariana Islands | 12–0 | 19–0 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers |
| 10 | 26 August 2009 | Tainan, Taiwan | Northern Mariana Islands | 16–0 | 19–0 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers |
| 11 | 26 August 2009 | Tainan, Taiwan | Northern Mariana Islands | 19–0 | 19–0 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers |
| 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 | 16 November 2010 | Guangzhou, China | Jordan | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2010 Asian Games |
| 17 | 16 November 2010 | Guangzhou, China | Jordan | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2010 Asian Games |
| 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 | 27 July 2013 | Seoul, South Korea | Japan | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup |
| 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 | 12 November 2014 | Hsinchu, Taiwan | Guam | 8–0 | 15–0 | 2015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualifiers |
| 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 | 5 April 2017 | Pyongyang, North Korea | India | 10–0 | 10–0 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 44 | 11 April 2017 | Pyongyang, North Korea | Uzbekistan | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 45 | 11 April 2017 | Pyongyang, North Korea | Uzbekistan | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 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 | 21 August 2018 | Palembang, Indonesia | Indonesia | 12–0 | 12–0 | 2018 Asian Games |
| 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 | 28 February 2019 | Sydney, Australia | Argentina | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2019 Cup of Nations |
| 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 February 2020 | Seogwipo, South Korea | Myanmar | 3–0 | 7–0 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Third round |
| 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 | 21 January 2022 | Pune, India | Vietnam | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 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 |
| 72 | 23 February 2025 | Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates | Thailand | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2025 Pink Ladies Cup |

## Honours

INAC Kobe Leonessa
* Nadeshiko League Division 1: 2011, 2012, 2013
* Empress's Cup: 2011, 2012, 2013
* Nadeshiko League Cup: 2013
* International Women's Club Championship: 2013
Chelsea
* FA Women's Super League: 2015, 2017, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
* Women's FA Cup: 2014–15, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2021–22
* FA Women's League Cup: 2019–20, 2020–21
* Women's FA Community Shield: 2020
South Korea U20
* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup third place: 2010
* AFC U-19 Women's Championship runner-up: 2009
South Korea Universiade
* Summer Universiade: 2009
South Korea
* AFC Women's Asian Cup runner-up: 2022
* Asian Games bronze medal: 2010, 2014, 2018
Individual
* Summer Universiade Most Valuable Player: 2009
* AFC U-19 Women's Championship top goalscorer: 2009
* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Silver Ball: 2010
* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Silver Shoe: 2010
* Korean FA Women's Player of the Year: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022
* FA Women's Players' Player of the Year: 2014
* PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year: 2014–15
* PFA Women's Super League Team of the Year: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
* IFFHS Asian Women's Team of All Time: 2021
* WK League Midfielder of the Year: 2022