Kim Ji-soo (Korean: 김지수; born 24 December 2004) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Brentford.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | 김지수 | ||
| Date of birth | 24 December 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Bucheon, South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Brentford | ||
| Number | 36 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2022 | Seongnam FC[note 1] | ||
| 2023–2024 | Brentford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Seongnam FC | 20 | (0) |
| 2023– | Brentford | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019–2020 | South Korea U17 | 16 | (1) |
| 2023– | South Korea U20 | 11 | (0) |
| 2023– | South Korea U23 | 3 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:15, 26 June 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:15, 27 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editSeongnam FC
editKim joined the youth academy of Seongnam FC and worked his way up their youth categories.[2] On 7 February 2022, he signed his first semi-professional contract with the club ahead of the 2022 K League 1 season.[2] In doing so, he became the club's first ever semi-pro player, as well as their youngest registered player in the league that season.[3] On 18 October 2022, he was registered as a fully professional player.[4] He made 19 appearances in his debut season with Seongnam, earning interest from clubs abroad.[5]
Brentford
editOn 26 June 2023, Kim joined Premier League club Brentford for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract with the club, with an option for an additional year, and being assigned to the B team.[6][7] During a season at the B team, he was on the list of senior squad in eight Premier League matches, but did not make his senior debut.[8]
On 7 June 2024, Kim was officially promoted to the senior team,[9] becoming the first-ever Korean centre-back to be affiliated to a Premier League club.[10]
International career
editKim is a youth international of South Korea, and played in the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup and 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[11] He became one of the most notable players in the latter competition after helping his team reach the semi-finals.[12]
In August 2023, Kim received his first call-up to the South Korea senior national team by head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, for two friendly matches against Wales and Saudi Arabia.[13][14]
Style of play
editKim is a centre-back who has power, height and quick feet. He is able to score, and can play with both feet. He has been frequently compared to Kim Min-jae in his country due to his playing style.[3]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 17 September 2024[8]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Seongnam FC | 2022 | K League 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | K League 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Brentford | 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
Honours
editIndividual
- K League All-Star: 2022[15]
Notes
edit- ^ Played for Seongnam FC U15 from 2017 to 2019, and Pungsaeng High School from 2020 to 2022, which were academies of Seongnam FC.
References
edit- ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Korea Republic (KOR)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b [오피셜] 성남, 만 17세 2004년생 DF 김지수와 준프로 계약 (in Korean). InterFootball. 7 February 2022.
- ^ a b 2004년생 '대형 센터백' 성남 김지수, 유럽 관심 더 높아지고 있다 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 7 March 2023.
- ^ 전북 강상윤·성남 김지수 등 K리그 2023시즌 우선지명 선수 발표 (in Korean). Money Today. 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Bayern Munich scouting 19-year old South Korean wonderkid". Bavarian Football Works. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Brentford sign Ji-soo Kim". Brentford F.C. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Brentford sign promising South Korean defender Kim". BBC Sport. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ a b Kim Ji-soo at Soccerway
- ^ "Ji-soo Kim and Ben Winterbottom promoted to Brentford's first-team squad". Brentford F.C. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ ‘한국 최초 EPL 센터백 탄생’ 2004년생 김지수, 브렌트퍼드 1군 승격 [공식발표] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ U-20 아시안컵 참가 명단 확정, 3월 2일 오만과 첫 경기 (in Korean). KFA. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "SCOUTED XI: Our U-20 World Cup Team of the Tournament". Scouted Notebook. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ 명단 발표 [List announcement] (in Korean). Korea Football Association. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Paik, Ji-Hwan (28 August 2023). "Klinsmann makes some changes ahead of September friendlies". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 K-League XI". Tottenham Hotspur. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
External links
edit- Kim Ji-soo at Brentford F.C.
- Kim Ji-soo at Premier League
- Kim Ji-soo at Soccerway