Julia Ashley

Julia Elizabeth Ashley (born November 11, 1996) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels before spending her professional career with Adelaide United, Linköpings FC, Racing Louisville FC, and the Houston Dash.

Early life Ashley was born in Verona, New Jersey, to Suzanne and Martin Ashley, and has two sisters.

Club career On January 20, 2019, Ashley signed a five-month contract with Linköpings FC in the Damallsvenskan in Sweden.

In November 2019, Ashley signed a deal with Australian club Adelaide United. She made her debut for the team on November 14, starting in the 2019–20 season opener against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Ashley was originally selected by Sky Blue FC with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, but she never signed for the club. She expressed a hope that Sky Blue would either trade her NWSL rights to another team or release her. On January 17, 2020, Sky Blue traded her NWSL rights to Reign FC. Ashley subsequently signed a three-year contract with Reign FC on March 4, 2020.

On November 12, 2020, Ashley was chosen by Racing Louisville FC in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.

She was traded to Houston Dash in December 2021.

In 2023, Ashley retired from professional soccer due to persistent injuries that included herniated discs and knee problems.

International career Ashley was part of the United States U–20 player pool and was called up to a U–20 camp in January 2016. In 2018 she was named to the United States U–23 roster for the 2018 Thorns Spring Invitational. She received another U–23 call-up in March 2019 for the La Manga Tournament in Spain.

Career statistics

Club .