15th Premier Leaguer Kim Ji-soo Debut Again, Making Korea's History, Youngest EPL Debut → Centerback for the First Time
Dec 28, 2024
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Kim Ji-soo replaced Ben Mee in the 33rd minute of the second half in the 2024-2025 English Premier League (EPL) away match against Brighton at Amex Stadium in Brighton, England on the 28th (Korea time). It was the moment when Kim Ji-soo announced his EPL debut.
Kim Ji-soo, who was born in 2004, is considered the present and future of Korean soccer. Watchers say that he has a solid 1m92 and high soccer intelligence. He made his K League 1 debut as a semi-professional in 2022 when he was a senior in high school. He made his debut at the age of 17 years and 140 days and played 19 games 'Hana One Q K League 1 2022'. He moved to England shortly after the U-20 World Cup in June last year. After joining Brentford, he became the first Korean teenage Premier Leaguer and the first to go straight from the K League 2 stage. He completed his adjustment by moving between the first team and the B team. On September 18, he took the British stage as a substitute in the 32nd minute of the second half in the third round (32 strongest teams) of the Carabao Cup (League Cup) 2024-2025 season against Leyton Orient (third division).
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In addition, Kim Ji-soo, who celebrated his 20th birthday on the 24th, became the youngest Korean player and the first Premier Leaguer as a center back. The previous record was 20 years and 3 months old when Ji Dong-won, the eighth Korean Premier Leaguer, was deployed as a substitute for Sunderland in the 2011-2012 season opener away game against Liverpool in August 2011. In addition, defenders such as Lee Young-pyo, Cho Won-hee and Yoon Seok-young played in the EPL first, but their main position was side defenders.
After the game, Brentford club announced the news of Kim Ji-soo's EPL debut on SNS (social network service). Kim Ji-soo helped his team's scoreless game, although it wasn't enough time. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. According to soccer statistics media Footmob, Kim Ji-soo recorded a 67% pass success rate (6 attempts, 4 successes), 8 ball touches, and 2 clearings in 12 minutes of official playing time.
Meanwhile, the draw put Brentford 11th out of the league's 20 teams with seven wins, three draws and eight losses (24 points). Brentford will play Arsenal at home on 2 January 2025 for their first game of the new year.
epi17@sportschosun.com
