Kim Ji-soo (footballer)

Kim Ji-soo
Personal information
Date of birth	24 December 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Bucheon, South Korea
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Brentford
Number	36
Youth career
2017–2022	Seongnam FC
2023–2024	Brentford
Senior career*
Years	Team
2022–2023	Seongnam FC
2023–	Brentford
International career‡
2019–2020	South Korea U17
2023–	South Korea U20
2023–	South Korea U23
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:20, 1 January 2025 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:15, 27 March 2024 (UTC)

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.

Club career

Seongnam FC

Kim joined the youth academy of Seongnam FC and worked his way up their youth categories.^[1] On 7 February 2022, he signed his first semi-professional contract with the club ahead of the 2022 K League 1 season.^[1] 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.^[2] On 18 October 2022, he was registered as a fully professional player.^[3] He made 19 appearances in his debut season with Seongnam, earning interest from clubs abroad.^[4]

Brentford

On 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.^[5]^[6] 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.^[7]

On 7 June 2024, Kim was officially promoted to the senior team,^[8] becoming the first-ever Korean centre-back to be affiliated to a Premier League club.^[9]

He made his Premier League debut on December 27, 2024 coming on as a 76th minute substitute for Ben Mee in Brentford's match against Brighton Hove and Albion.

International career

Kim is a youth international of South Korea, and played in the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup and 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.^[10] He became one of the most notable players in the latter competition after helping his team reach the semi-finals.^[11]

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.^[12]^[13]

Style of play

Kim 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.^[2]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 January 2025^[7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	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	2	0	1	0	1	0	―		―		4	0
Career total			22	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	25	0

Honours

Individual

K League All-Star: 2022^[14]

Notes

^ Played for Seongnam FC U15 from 2017 to 2019, and Pungsaeng High School [ko] from 2020 to 2022, which were academies of Seongnam FC.

References

^ ^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

[1] Played for Seongnam FC U15 from 2017 to 2019, and Pungsaeng High School [ko] from 2020 to 2022, which were academies of Seongnam FC.

[:0-2] [오피셜] 성남, 만 17세 2004년생 DF 김지수와 준프로 계약 (in Korean). InterFootball. 7 February 2022.

[Kim1-3] 2004년생 '대형 센터백' 성남 김지수, 유럽 관심 더 높아지고 있다 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 7 March 2023.

[4] 전북 강상윤·성남 김지수 등 K리그 2023시즌 우선지명 선수 발표 (in Korean). Money Today. 18 October 2022.

[5] "Bayern Munich scouting 19-year old South Korean wonderkid". Bavarian Football Works. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

[6] "Brentford sign Ji-soo Kim". Brentford F.C. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

[7] "Brentford sign promising South Korean defender Kim". BBC Sport. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

[soccerway-8] Kim Ji-soo at Soccerway

[9] "Ji-soo Kim and Ben Winterbottom promoted to Brentford's first-team squad". Brentford F.C. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.

[10] ‘한국 최초 EPL 센터백 탄생’ 2004년생 김지수, 브렌트퍼드 1군 승격 [공식발표] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.

[11] U-20 아시안컵 참가 명단 확정, 3월 2일 오만과 첫 경기 (in Korean). KFA. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

[12] "SCOUTED XI: Our U-20 World Cup Team of the Tournament". Scouted Notebook. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

[13] 명단 발표 [List announcement] (in Korean). Korea Football Association. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[14] Paik, Ji-Hwan (28 August 2023). "Klinsmann makes some changes ahead of September friendlies". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[15] "Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 K-League XI". Tottenham Hotspur. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2024.

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