The reports are true - South Korean international Ji So-yun is joining the Reign! Seattle Reign FC announced on Wednesday the signing of the midfielder through the 2025 season. The Reign paid an undisclosed transfer fee to her current club, Suwon FC in South Korea, who had Ji on contract for one more year. Ji will join the team once she receives her visa.
Ji has been at Suwon FC since 2022 and before that, the midfielder spent eight years at Chelsea, making 210 appearances and scoring 68 goals in all competitions for the London side.
Ji – the first Korean in the FA Women's Super League – won virtually every domestic title available in England, including Player of the Year and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year honors after her first season at Chelsea in 2014. Ji was also named to the PFA team of the year in the Women's Super League five times. She was part of Chelsea squads that won six league titles, four FA Cups, two league cups, and one Community Shield.
"It is a highlight moment in the history of the club to be signing a player of Ji's pedigree and ability. Her experience and accomplishments are well documented. The intangibles she brings are an individual style to her game, veteran leadership and a game savvy, which complements others around her and gives opponents fits. We can't wait to see her in the team and for our fans to get to know her," said Seattle Reign FC General Manager Lesle Gallimore in the club's press release.
Ji has scored 69 international goals in more than 150 international caps for South Korea. She became the first woman named as co-president of the Korean Pro-Footballers’ Association in 2020. Ji was named the Korea FA Player of the Year seven times, with the most recent honor coming in 2022.
Ji started her professional career at INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2011 – playing three seasons in Japan before her transfer to Chelsea. According to a profile of the midfielder in Our Game Magazine, Ji lived with former Reign forward Naho Kawasumi while playing for INAC Kobe.
Richard Laverty
“I am so happy we could bring Ji to our club, her experience and ability at playing at the highest level of the game will bring so much to our team. She is a proven winner who can solve things on the pitch in multiple ways. I can’t wait to work with her and continue to push this team forward," said Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey.
Annyeonghaseyo, Ji!
