Footballer Jeon Ga-eul to join U.S. women's league
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Jeon Ga-eul speaks at a press conference in Songdo, Incheon, Tuesday, after announcing her deal with the Western New York Flash of the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League / Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
Female footballer Jeon Ga-eul said that she was determined to do her best as a trailblazer in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), one of the most prestigious leagues in women’s football.
Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels said Tuesday that its 27-year-old midfielder has finalized a deal with the Western New York Flash in the NWSL. She will join the team on loan, as her contract with the Red Angels expires in one year. Due to team and league policies, no other contract terms were announced.
The announcement came three days after the American club announced it had signed Jeon, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
She is the first Korean player to play in the top-tier NWSL.
“It is a new beginning,” said Jeon in a statement. “As a trailblazer, I really want to develop it down the road.” She added that she will pay back fans’ support with good news in New York.
With the U.S. standing as the world’s no.1 in women’s football, following their FIFA Women’s World Cup win in Canada last year, the NWSL is considered one of the best leagues. Founded in 2005 as an amateur club, the Flash earned its regular season title in 2011, its inaugural season in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), the predecessor of the NWSL, and captured the 2011 WPS Championship title.
Two years later, when the NWSL replaced the WPS, the Flash became the NWSL Shield winners by finishing their regular season at the top. The team has had a number of women’s football stars, including Brazil’s five-time FIFA Woman’s Player of the Year Marta (2011), Canadian national team legend Christine Sinclair (2011-13) and the most shining star in women’s football Alex Morgan (2011).
However, the Flash remained at no.7 among nine teams in the 2014-15 season, which led the club to seek fresh talent to aid its comeback.
“Jeon should make an immediate impact with our club, while also providing leadership on the field,” said Flash General Manager Rich Randall through the club’s website. “Her ability to get the ball to her teammates’ feet is impressive … Her discipline and on-field vision will be a key piece to our success this year. We are excited for her arrival this March.”
Along with Ji So-yun of Chelsea LFC, Jeon is a mainstay of the Korean national team, scoring 34 goals in 72 national matches so far. Her performance as a withdrawn attacker raised Korea to reach the round of 16 at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Playing in all four group matches, and scored a goal against Costa Rica and had an assist against Spain. She also played a big part in Korea claiming a bronze medal in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
Jeon made her debut in 2009 for Suwon FMC and helped the club top the WK-League in 2010, collecting the MVP title and the Best Female Player award from the Korea Football Association. In the following year, she moved to the Red Angels and lifted the club to claim the regular season title and championship for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. She scored 30 goals and made 12 assists in 98 games in seven seasons with the WK-League. Her ability to keep possession under pressure and her dribbling skills relying on pace changes earned her the nickname “Woman Hazard” from her Korean fans.