Ji Dong-won

Ji Dong-won (, or ; born 28 May 1991) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Suwon FC.

Born in Chuja Islands, an archipelago of Jeju City, Ji began his football career at Gwangyang Jecheol High School.

(Jeonnam Dragons under-18 team).

One of the best prospects in South Korea, Ji was sent to an English club Reading in 2007 by the Korea Football Association.

After a brief spell in Reading Academy, Ji moved back to his home country to rejoin Jeonnam Dragons' youth team, where he started his career.

It was announced in November 2009 that Ji was promoted to the first team of Jeonnam Dragons.

Ji scored 13 goals during 29 appearances in his first professional season including a hat-trick against Gyeongnam in the 2010 Korean FA Cup.

He became a national player due to his notable performance, although he conceded the K League Young Player of the Year award to his rival Yoon Bit-garam.

The next year, Ji agreed a move to Premier League side Sunderland in the summer transfer window.

In June 2011, Ji agreed a deal to join Sunderland of the English Premier League as a summer transfer after impressing manager Steve Bruce with his performance in the 2011 Asian Cup, in which he scored four goals and provided two assists in six games.

He signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee (believed to be around £2 million).

Upon joining the club, Ji was given a number 17 shirt ahead of the new season.

Ji made his first appearance for his new club in a 1–1 draw with Arminia Bielefeld in the club's pre-season tour of Germany.

He scored his first goal for Sunderland in a pre-season friendly against Darlington.

Ji made his league debut for Sunderland on 13 August 2011 coming on for Asamoah Gyan in the 66th minute against Liverpool.

Ji scored his first Premier League goal in the 90th minute against Chelsea from a Nicklas Bendtner assist on 10 September 2011, to which Sunderland lost 2–1.

Towards end of the 2011–12 season, Ji's first team opportunities was further limited by new Manager Martin O'Neill.

Despite this, Ji went on to make the total of 21 appearances and scoring 2 times in all competitions.

Ji is only a young boy and he's a long way from home.

It's difficult to settle.

I'm sure he'd like to have played more football than he has.

But he's worked hard in training and got himself a deserved start at Fulham, where I thought he was pretty bright at times.

It takes time to get used to the physical side of things for the Asian players when they come over here, and it's the same for the South Americans.

They all adapt differently.

For Ji, the big plus point is he's a young lad.

He's got a lot to learn, but time is on his side.

Reflecting on the season, team–mate Phil Bardsley said of Ji.

Just 12 minutes after coming on as substitute in the second–half against Manchester City on 1 January 2012, Ji scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, in a 1–0 win.

However, his first team opportunities at Sunderland was limited, due to his fitness and he appeared invariably as a late substitute.

As a result, he played in the reserve side to regain his match fitness.

Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Ji was told by Manager O’Neill that he needs to develop in the Premier League physically if he is fully deliver on his potential.

However, he failed to appear in the first team throughout the first half of the season and appeared in the reserve side instead.

In the 2013–14 season, Ji made his first Sunderland appearance in over a year, where he came on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–0 loss against Fulham in the opening game of the season.

He appeared in the first team under the management of Paolo Di Canio and rejected a £5 million bid from an unnamed club for him.

However, after Di Canio, Ji was hardly featured in the first team following a new management of Gus Poyet.

On 1 January 2013, Ji signed for FC Augsburg on loan for the rest of the season, where his national teammate midfielder Koo Ja-cheol was also on loan.

On 1 January 2014, when he made his first start, in his first appearance under Poyet, in a 1–0 loss against Aston Villa, in what turns out to be his last appearance.

Although he went on to make the total of seven appearances by the time of his departure, it was revealed that Sunderland failed gain international clearance from the German Football Association, resulting a fine by the Premier League.

During his time at Sunderland, Ji earned a cult hero status among the club's supporters.

When his opportunities in Sunderland were limited, Ji was linked with Jeonnam Dragons and FC Augsburg.