Kim Kee-hee

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kim Kee-hee

| image = 241110 FC 서울 vs 울산 (김기희).jpg

| caption = Kim in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|7|13|df=y}}

| height = {{height|m=1.87}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kleague.com/eng/sub.asp?localNum=5&pageNum=1&subNum=2&TeamId=K00&LeagueId=2&PlayerId=20110119#player_detail |title=Kim Keehee |publisher=K League |access-date=17 March 2016}}

| currentclub = Seattle Sounders FC

| clubnumber = 20

| position = Centre-back, defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 = 2005–2007

| youthclubs1 = Bukyeong High School

| youthyears2 = 2008–2010

| youthclubs2 = Hongik University

| years1 = 2011–2013

| clubs1 = Daegu FC

| caps1 = 29

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2012–2013

| clubs2 = → Al-Sailiya (loan)

| caps2 = 20

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2013–2015

| clubs3 = Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

| caps3 = 80

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2016–2017

| clubs4 = Shanghai Shenhua

| caps4 = 45

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2018–2019

| clubs5 = Seattle Sounders FC

| caps5 = 59

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2020–2024

| clubs6 = Ulsan Hyundai

| caps6 = 61

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2025–

| clubs7 = Seattle Sounders FC

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2011–2012

| nationalteam1 = South Korea U23

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2012–2017

| nationalteam2 = South Korea

| nationalcaps2 = 23

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{MedalOlympics}}

| pcupdate = 15 October 2022

| ntupdate = 10 October 2017

}}

{{Infobox Korean name|hangul=김기희|hanja=金基熙|rr=Gim Gihui|mr=Kim Kihŭi}}

Kim Kee-hee ({{Korean|김기희}}; {{IPA|ko|kim.ɡi.ɦi}} or {{IPA|ko|kim|}} {{IPA|ko|ki.ɦi|}}; born 13 July 1989) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. He can also be fielded as a defensive midfielder. Kim has played for teams in the K-League, Qatar Stars League, Chinese Super League and Major League Soccer. He has also represented South Korea at the national level.

Club career

=Daegu=

Kim initially played University League at Hongik University from 2008 to 2010. Kim was then drafted in the second round of the 2011 K-League draft by Daegu FC.{{cite news|url=http://www.daegufc.co.kr/board/content.html?tb=board_2&num=1681&category=&tap=&page=1 |title=2011 대구FC 드래프트 안재훈(건국대) 등 9명 선발 |work=Daegu FC |date=9 November 2010 |access-date=5 March 2011 |language=ko |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722133359/http://www.daegufc.co.kr/board/content.html?tb=board_2&num=1681&category=&tap=&page=1 |archive-date=22 July 2011 }} Kim made his professional debut on 5 March 2011, playing the full 90 minutes of Daegu's opening game of the 2011 K-League season against Gwangju FC, which ended in a 2–3 loss for Daegu FC.{{cite news |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/03/05/korea-republic/k-league/gwangju-fc/daegu-fc/1080298/ |title=Gwangju vs. Daegu 3 - 2 |work=Soccerway |access-date=5 March 2011 }}

==Loan to Al-Sailiya==

On 26 September 2012, Kim joined the newly promoted Qatar Stars League club Al-Sailiya on a loan deal.{{cite news|url=http://www.qsl.com.qa/users/newsen/NewsDetails.aspx?pid=935 |title=Kim joins Al Sailiyah |publisher=Qatar Stars League |date=26 September 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012 |language=ko |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306155527/http://www.qsl.com.qa/users/newsen/NewsDetails.aspx?pid=935 |archive-date= 6 March 2014 }}

=Jeonbuk Hyundai=

Kim joined fellow K-League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2013 and would help the team to win two successive K-League titles.

=Shanghai Shenhua=

On 19 February 2016, Kim moved to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for a reported transfer fee of US$6 million. Kim's agent had described the deal as the "biggest transfer in Korean history".{{cite news|title=Shenhua signs Kim as its Asian player|url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sports/soccer/Shenhua-signs-Kim-as-its-Asian-player/shdaily.shtml|publisher=ShanghaiDaily.com |date=20 February 2016 |access-date=20 February 2016}} On 5 March 2016, he made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Yanbian Funde.

=Seattle Sounders FC=

On 27 February 2018, Kim was signed by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer using targeted allocation money.{{cite news |date=27 February 2018 |title=Sounders FC signs South Korean defender Kim Kee-hee |url=https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2018/02/27/sounders-fc-signs-south-korean-defender-kim-kee-hee |publisher=Seattle Sounders FC |access-date=27 February 2018}} He won MLS Cup 2019 with Seattle and planned to sign a new contract for the 2020 season, but was unable to come to financial terms with the club.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=21 February 2025 |title=Kim Kee-hee embracing return to Sounders, vows to 'bring trophy back' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/kim-kee-hee-embracing-return-to-sounders-vows-to-bring-trophy-back/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=23 February 2025}}

=Ulsan Hyundai=

On 26 February 2020, Kim was signed by Ulsan Hyundai of K League 1.

=Return to Seattle Sounders FC=

On 28 January 2025, Kim rejoined Seattle Sounders FC on a one-year contract with an option for the following season. He is expected to be used as a rotation player behind the starting center-backs due to the team's participation in multiple competitions.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=28 January 2025 |title=Veteran defender Kim Kee-hee returns to Sounders |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/veteran-defender-kim-kee-hee-returns-to-sounders/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=28 January 2025}}

International career

In 2011, Kim was selected for the South Korea U-23 national team that participated in the 2012 King's Cup, an annual tournament held in Thailand.{{cite web|title=Olympic Team Squad for King's Cup (at Thailand, 26/12/2011)|url=http://www.kfa.or.kr/eng_renew/koreateam/km_player_list.asp?k_unique=20111226112116&k_team_type=2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803171107/http://www.kfa.or.kr/eng_renew/koreateam/km_player_list.asp?k_unique=20111226112116&k_team_type=2|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2012|publisher=Korean Football Association|access-date=27 January 2012}}

In 2012, Kim won the bronze medal with South Korea U-23 in the 2012 London Olympics, which was the first Olympic medal ever in Korean football history, and he was granted exemption to two years of mandatory military service like the rest of the team.{{cite news|title=Footballer to Be Spared Military Service Despite IOC Probe|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/08/14/2012081400937.html|access-date=2 October 2012|newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo|date=14 August 2012}}{{cite news|title=Medal instead of military service|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/546712.html|access-date=25 February 2013|newspaper=The Hankyoreh|date=11 August 2012}}

Honours

=Club=

;Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

K League 1 (2): 2014, 2015

;Shanghai Greenland Shenhua

Chinese FA Cup (1): 2017

;Seattle Sounders FC

MLS Cup (1): 2019{{cite news |title=Seattle Sounders are 2019 MLS Cup champions: Rave Green win second MLS title |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/10/seattle-sounders-are-2019-mls-cup-champions-rave-green-win-second-mls-title |publisher=Major League Soccer |date=10 November 2019 |access-date=10 November 2019}}

;Ulsan Hyundai

AFC Champions League: 2020
K League 1 (3): 2022, 2023, 2024

=International=

;South Korea U-23

Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medal: 2012

;South Korea

EAFF East Asian Cup: 2015

=Individual=

K League 1 Best XI (2): 2015, 2024

Career statistics

{{updated|15 October 2022}}{{cite web|title=Kim, Ki-Hee|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/49268/Ki_Hee_Kim.html|publisher=national-football-teams.com|access-date=15 December 2016}}

Season	Club	League ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 \| Club performance ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
colspan=3 \| South Korea ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| KFA Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Asia ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
2011	rowspan=2\|Daegu FC	rowspan=2\|K League 1	12	0	0	0	2	0\|



\|14	0
2012	17	2	0	0	0	0\|



\|17	2
colspan=3 \| Qatar ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| QNB Cup ! colspan=2 \| Asia ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
2012–13	Al-Sailiya SC	Qatar Stars League	20	0	0	0	0	0\|



\|20	0
colspan=3 \| South Korea ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| KFA Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Asia ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
2013	rowspan=3\|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	rowspan=3\|K League 1	19	0	3	1\|

\|0	0\|

\|22	1
2014	28	0	1	0\|

\|7	0\|

\|36	0
2015	33	0	1	0\|

\|8	1\|

\|42	1
colspan=3 \| China PR ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| FA Cup ! colspan=2 \| CSL Cup ! colspan=2 \| Asia ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
2016	rowspan=2\|Shanghai Shenhua	rowspan=2\|Chinese Super League	30	0	3	0\|





\|33	0
2017	15	1	1	1\|

\|1	0\|

\|17	2
colspan=3 \| United States ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Open Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| North America ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
2018	rowspan=2\|Seattle Sounders FC	rowspan=2\|Major League Soccer	29	0	0	0\|

\|2	0	1{{efn\|name=MLS PO\|Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs}}	0	32	0
2019	30	0	0	0\|



\|4{{efn\|name=MLS PO\|Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs}}	0	34	0
colspan=3 \| South Korea ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| KFA Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Asia ! colspan=2 \| Others ! colspan=2 \| Total
2020	rowspan="3" \|Ulsan Hyundai	rowspan="3" \|K League 1	12	0	2	0\|

\|8	1\|

\|22	1
2021	36	1	2	0\|

\|8	0	2{{efn\|name=FIFA CWC\|Appearances in 2020 FIFA Club World Cup}}	\|1	48	2
2022 \|13 \|0 \|2 \|0 \| - \| - \|0 \|0 \| - \| - \|15 \|0
colspan="3" \| Career total !294\|\|4\|\|15\|\|2\|\|2\|\|0\|\|34\|\|2\|\|7\|\|1\|\|352\|\|9