Abi Kim Explained

Abi Kim
Fullname:Abigail Kofi Kim[1]
Birth Date:19 July 1998
Birth Place:Monrovia, Liberia
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Bordeaux
Clubnumber:17
Youthclubs1:Pacific Northwest SC
Collegeyears1:2016–2019
College1:California Golden Bears
Collegecaps1:80
Collegegoals1:18
Years1:2019
Clubs1:LA Galaxy OC
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:Fiorentina
Caps2:6
Goals2:1
Years3:2021–2022
Clubs3:Orlando Pride
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Bordeaux
Caps4:22
Goals4:3
Nationalyears1:2015–2016
Nationalteam1:United States U18
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:United States U20
Nationalcaps2:24
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2019
Nationalteam3:United States U23
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:May 27, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:April 9, 2019

Abigail Kofi Kim (born July 19, 1998) is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for French Division 1 Féminine club Bordeaux. Born in Liberia, she has represented the United States internationally up to under-23 level.

Having played college soccer for California Golden Bears, she has since appeared for LA Galaxy OC in United Women's Soccer, Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League and in Italy for Serie A team Fiorentina.

Early life

Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Kim grew up with an adopted family in Vashon, Washington. Kim attended Seattle Christian High School and helped lead the school's soccer team to the 1A state championship title in 2015, scoring 41 goals in 20 matches and was named MVP by the Washington State Soccer Coaches Association. She played club soccer for Pacific Northwest SC, winning the state championship in 2013 and 2014. Kim was also a track and field athlete for Seattle Christian, helping the team to three consecutive state titles.

California Golden Bears

Kim was recruited to play college soccer for California Golden Bears. She was a four-year starter between 2016 and 2019, notably earning Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors in a 2016 season in which she saw action in all 21 of Cal's matches, leading all freshmen with 16 starts. In 2019, Kim was named captain of the team for her senior season. A legal studies major, Kim was also a Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2018.[2]

In the 2019 offseason, Kim joined UWS club LA Galaxy OC, making three appearances as the team won the National Championship.[3] [4]

Club career

Fiorentina

Kim was selected in the third round (26th overall) of the 2020 NWSL College Draft by Orlando Pride.[5] Having joined up with the team for preseason, all NWSL activities were shut down just three days in to camp due to the developing coronavirus pandemic.[6] With the ongoing disruption of the 2020 NWSL season and having rehabbed from a knee injury sustained while training over summer, Kim elected to sign in Italy with Serie A team Fiorentina in June.[7] With issues surrounding travel and quarantines, Kim's signing wasn't officially completed until October 17.[8] She made her debut on November 1, starting in a 6–1 victory against second division ASD Riozzese in the 2020–21 Coppa Italia group stage.[9] She scored her first goal for the club on December 13 in a 1–1 Serie A draw with Empoli.[10] Three days later she made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut, starting in a Round of 32 second leg away at Slavia Prague. Fiorentina scored a stoppage time winner to progress 3–2 on aggregate.[11]

Orlando Pride

After a spell in Italy, Kim returned to Orlando Pride for preseason ahead of the 2021 season and signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year on March 2, 2021.[12] She made her professional NWSL debut for the club on April 10, 2021, as a 78th-minute substitute in the team's Challenge Cup opener against Racing Louisville and scored to give Orlando the lead in the 88th minute. The game finished 2–2.[13] On August 24, 2022, Kim was waived. In two seasons she made 21 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and two assists.[14]

Bordeaux

In August 2023, Kim signed a two-year contract with French Division 1 Féminine club Bordeaux.[15]

International career

Kim has represented the United States at the under-18 and under-20 and under-23 levels.

In January 2018, Kim was part of the under-20 team that finished as runners-up at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, losing the final to Mexico in a penalty shoot-out.[16] In August 2018, Kim was also named to the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad. The team failed to get out of the group behind Spain and Japan as Kim made three substitute appearances.[17]

In April 2019, Kim was called up to the under-23 team to play at the La Manga U23 tournament, starting in two of the three games.[18]

Kim is of Ghanaian descent through her biological father,[19] which makes her eligible to represent Ghana. In April 2024, she was approached by Ghana women's national team head coach Nora Häuptle to talk about a possible call-up.[20]

Career statistics

College

SchoolSeasonDivisionAppsGoals
California Golden Bears2016Div. I213
2017207
2018186
2019212
Career total8018

Club

.

ClubSeasonLeagueCup[21] Continental[22] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
LA Galaxy OC2019USW3030
Fiorentina2020–21Serie A6120102[23] 1112
Orlando Pride2021NWSL602181
202211020130
Total170410000211
Career total261611021353

Honors

LA Galaxy OC

2019

Fiorentina

United States U20

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 Women's WC France 2018 – List of Players: USA . . 16 . August 24, 2018 . April 10, 2022 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191107142149/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FU20W/2018/pdf/FU20W_2018_SquadLists.pdf . November 7, 2019.
  2. Web site: Abi Kim - California Golden Bears. UC Berkeley Athletics.
  3. Web site: Abigail Kim LA Galaxy Orange County Women's UWS Team . LA Galaxy OC . 2021-04-11 . 2022-11-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108045535/http://uws.lagalaxyoc.com/abigail-kim/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Galaxy OC shuts out Foothills WFC for United Women's Soccer title . Calgary Sun . July 22, 2019.
  5. Web site: Orlando Pride Trades to No. 3 Overall, Selects Midfielder Taylor Kornieck in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. www.orlandocitysc.com.
  6. Web site: Statement from NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird regarding the 2020 season . www.nwslsoccer.com . March 12, 2020.
  7. Web site: TCF Calciomercato - Fiorentina, fatta per Abi Kim . app.tuttocalciofemminile.com . 14 June 2022 . it . 11 April 2021 . 8 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108045534/https://app.tuttocalciofemminile.com/news-1/c/0/i/47748539/tcf-calciomercato-fiorentina-fatta-abi-kim . dead .
  8. Web site: McCormack . Mike . Fiorentina Femminile sign USWNT U20 Player Abi Kim . Viola Nation . September 9, 2020.
  9. Web site: Super Viola: sei reti in Coppa Italia . ACF Fiorentina.
  10. Web site: Empoli Ladies-Fiorentina Femminile 1-1. Ora testa alla Champions League . FirenzeViolaSuperSport Live . it . December 13, 2020.
  11. Web site: Slavia Praha-Fiorentina December 2020 . UEFA.com.
  12. Web site: Orlando Pride Signs 2020 Draft Pick Abi Kim . www.orlandocitysc.com.
  13. Web site: Racing Louisville vs Orlando Pride . Soccerway.
  14. News: Orlando Pride Waive Forward Abi Kim . August 24, 2022 . August 24, 2022 . The Mane Land . Michael . Citro.
  15. Web site: Abigail Kofi Kim rejoint Bordeaux . Girondins.com . fr.
  16. Web site: Mexico prevail in strengthened CONCACAF region . www.fifa.com.
  17. Web site: U.S. roster named for U20 Women's World Cup . TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  18. Web site: U.S. U-23 WNT Falls to France 3-1 at La Manga Tournament in Spain . www.ussoccer.com.
  19. Web site: Goal Chaser.
  20. Web site: Black Queens coach Nora Hauptle coach scouts Ghanaian players in France.
  21. [Coppa Italia (women)|Coppa Italia]
  22. [UEFA Women's Champions League]
  23. [2020 Supercoppa Italiana (women)|2020 Supercoppa Italiana]