Lily Yohannes
Lilian Isabella Yohannes is an Eritrean-American professional soccer player who is a midfielder for French club OL Lyonnes of the Première Ligue and the [United States women's national Association football|soccer team|United States national team].
Early life
Yohannes was born in Springfield, Virginia to Eritrean parents. She moved to the Netherlands when she was ten years old after her father Daniel accepted a job in Amsterdam. Yohannes played youth soccer in the Netherlands and began training weekly with [AFC AFC Ajax (women)|Ajax (women)|Ajax] when she was 13 years old.Club career
Ajax, 2023-25
At age 15, Yohannes signed a three-year contract with Ajax in April 2023, lasting through June 2026. On November 15, 2023, aged 16, she became the youngest player ever to start a UEFA Women's Champions League group stage match and the youngest American to play in the competition. Ajax won 2–0 over Paris Saint-Germain. Yohannes was named player of the match in Ajax's 2–1 victory over AS Roma on January 30, 2024.Yohannes received the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year award for the 2023–24 Eredivisie season, given to a top player under the age of 20. In her first season in the top Dutch league, she scored 5 goals in 20 matches, helping Ajax finish second and, starting in the final against Fortuna Sittard, win the KNVB Women's Cup in 2024.
Ajax lost in the qualifying rounds of the 2024–25 UEFA Women's Champions League, with Yohannes starting both of the team's matches in Brøndby, Denmark.
Lyon Féminin, 2025-present
On July 7, 2025, French Première Ligue club Lyon announced the signing of Yohannes on a 3 year contract, which would run until June 30, 2028. She scored on her debut against Olympique de Marseille on 7 September 2025 in a 3-1 win.International career
Yohannes was eligible for the United States, Netherlands, and Eritrea.Yohannes trained with the United States youth national team at the under-15 and under-16 level in 2022.
In December 2023, Yohannes attended camp with the Dutch under-19 national team.
In March 2024, at age 16, Yohannes received her first senior United States national team call-up ahead of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup. She became the youngest player to be called in to a senior camp since 16-year-old Sophia Smith in 2017. She made her international debut on June 4, 2024, against South Korea. She entered the game in the 72nd minute and scored her first goal in the 82nd minute. At one week shy of her 17th birthday, Yohannes became the third-youngest goal scorer in USWNT history. Later that month, she was not selected for the United States roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
In April 2024, Yohannes said she was applying for Dutch citizenship, which would make her eligible to play for the Dutch national team. She can change national teams because her USWNT debut was in a friendly. In September, she said she had not yet decided between the American and Dutch teams. In October, Dutch national coach Andries Jonker said that Yohannes was still not eligible to play for the Netherlands.
On November 11, 2024, Yohannes committed to representing the United States in international play.
Style of Play
Yohannes is a creative midfielder who uses creative passing to move attacks forward. She is also capable of scoring from all areas of the pitch. Most commonly used defensively or centrally, she is physically strong and is good under pressure from opposing defenders.Personal life
Yohannes is of Eritrean descent. Her maternal grandfather, Bokretsion Gebrehiwot, was a member of Ethiopian's men's national soccer team. Her two older brothers also play Dutch club soccer. Her oldest brother Aethan played on the United States under-15 and under-17 national teams and played college soccer at Wake Forest University. He is currently on the under-21 team of FC Den Bosch in North Brabant. Her brother Jayden plays for the under-21 team of SC Telstar in North Holland.Career statistics
International
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
| 1 | Allianz Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honors
AjaxUnited States
Individual