Kim Kee-hee

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2018 (Seattle): In his first season with the club, Kim established himself as an integral part of Seattle’s back line, which finished the regular season with the second-best defensive record in the league. An intelligent and robust player, the defender made 29 appearances during the regular season, 28 of which were starts. He played the full 90 minutes in 25 of his 28 starts as he formed a formidable partnership with fellow center back Chad Marshall. The Korean international was named to the MLS Team of the Week on three occasions: Week 21, Week 22 and Week 26. Kee-hee played a pivotal role in Seattle winning the 2018 Cascadia Cup when his cross into the box forced an own goal in a 1-0 win at Portland (August 26). In the 2018 MLS Cup Playoff Western Conference Semifinals, Kim played all 210 minutes across both legs of the series against Portland.  

2017 (Shanghai Shenhua): In his second and final season with Shanghai Shenhua, Kim started all 15 of his appearances, scoring once in a 1-1 draw with Changchun Yatai (August 5). He also started the club’s lone match of the AFC Champions League, a 2-0 loss to Brisbane Roar (February 8).

2016 (Shanghai Shenhua): Kim started all 30 Chinese Super League matches in his first season with Shanghai Shenhua. He scored one goal, a second-half equalizer in a 2-2 draw vs. Tianjin Teda (May 27).

2015 (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors): Kim established new career highs by starting all 33 of his appearances in his final season with Jeonbuk Motors, helping the club to its second title in as many seasons by totaling 73 regular-season points (22-9-7). He also made eight appearances in the AFC Champions League, helping Jeonbuk Motors out of the Group Stage and to the tournament’s quarterfinals. He scored one Champions League goal, the opening strike in the first leg of the Round of 16 matchup with Beijing Guoan (May 19), which Jeonbuk Motors advanced past 2-1 on aggregate. He also made one appearance in the 2015 Korean FA Cup.

2014 (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors): He started all 28 of his league appearances in 2014, leading Jeonbuk Motors to the K League title after tallying 81 points (24-5-9). Kim also started all seven of his AFC Champions League appearances in 2014, as Jeonbuk Motors advanced out of the Group Stage before falling in the Round of 16. He also made one appearance in the Korean FA Cup, a 120-minute effort against Seongnam before falling in penalties.

2013 (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors): In his first season with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, Kim started 18 of 19 regular-season appearances as his club finished third in the table with 63 points (18-11-9). He also started three matches in the 2013 Korean FA Cup, which saw Jeonbuk Motors fall in the tournament’s final.

2012-2013 (Al-Sailiya SC): Kim was loaned to newly-promoted first-division Qatari side Al-Sailiya SC, where he started all 20 of his appearances. However, the club was relegated after managing just 13 points (3-15-4).

2012 (Daegu FC): In his second professional season, Kim started all 17 of his appearances as Daegu FC finished 10th in the table with 61 points (16-15-13). He scored two goals – one in a 3-2 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (March 31) and the other in a 2-2 draw with Gwangju (May 4).

2011 (Daegu FC): After being selected by Daegu FC in the second round of the K League draft, Kim made his professional debut in a 3-2 loss to Gwangju FC (March 11). He went on to start 11 of his 12 appearances in 2011 as the club finished 12th in the table with 33 points (8-13-9).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Kim has 23 international caps for the South Korean National Team, including eight appearances throughout the nation’s successful run in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. He was also part of 

South Korea’s U-23 side at the 2012 London Olympics that won bronze, the first Olympic medal in the history of Korean soccer.

COLLEGE

Kim played for Hongik University in the U-League from 2008-2010, the collegiate soccer division in South Korea, before being drafted in the second round of the 2011 K-League Draft.

ACQUIRED

Signed by Sounders FC on February 27, 2018 using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).