Jun Endo Bio
Jun Endo, born 24 May 2000, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Japan national team. A graduate of the JFA Academy Fukushima LSC, she is widely recognised for her technical comfort in tight spaces, her intelligent movement off the ball, and her composure in front of goal. She previously played for Nippon TV Beleza of the Japanese Nadeshiko League, where she won the 2019 AFC Women’s Club Championship.
Early Life and Background
Jun Endo was born in Shirakawa, Fukushima, Japan, the youngest of four children. Her father is a football coach and her mother is a teacher, and her family lived next door to her grandparents in her hometown. Growing up in a household steeped in football, she was introduced to the game at a young age and quickly developed a strong love for the sport.
On 11 April 2011, when Endo was ten years old, the Fukushima earthquake struck while she was in class and severely damaged her school. Although her family and home survived, she was not allowed to go outside because of the radiation release from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. She continued to practice football inside her home, which sharpened her ability to control the ball in confined spaces. In a 2023 interview, she shared that she had been bullied by youth players who behaved as if athletes from Fukushima were contaminated by radioactivity, but the Japanese victory at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup inspired her to keep pursuing her dream.
Path to Professional Soccer
Endo’s talent earned her a place at the JFA Academy Fukushima LSC, where she developed from 2013 to 2018. The academy provided structured coaching, competitive matches, and a clear pathway into senior football, and it prepared her for the demands of professional competition.
She made her youth international debut with the Japan U-17 side at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, scoring three goals in four matches and helping Japan reach the final. Two years later, she represented the Japan U-20 team at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France, playing every match and scoring two goals as Japan won the championship. These performances marked her as one of Japan’s brightest young prospects.
Jun Endo Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
In 2018, Jun Endo joined Nippon TV Beleza of the Nadeshiko League, leaving the JFA Academy to begin her senior career with one of Japan’s most decorated clubs. She adapted quickly to senior football and contributed regularly as the club competed for domestic and continental honours.
Her standout achievement at Beleza came in 2019, when she helped the team win the AFC Women’s Club Championship, a title that confirmed her status as a rising star in Asian football. Across her four seasons with the club, she gained valuable experience in high-pressure matches and developed the consistency that would later define her career.
Angel City FC Breakthrough (2022–Present)
On 20 December 2021, Jun Endo signed with NWSL expansion side Angel City FC ahead of the club’s inaugural 2022 season. In her first regular-season match on 29 April 2022, she assisted the first goal and scored the second in a win over North Carolina Courage, earning Player of the Match honours. She went on to play 22 matches and log 1,925 minutes in her debut NWSL campaign as Angel City finished eighth with an 8–9–5 record.
Endo returned for the 2023 season and started 10 of her 18 league appearances, also featuring in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She opened her season account with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over Kansas City Current in May, scored in a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Red Stars on 17 September, and netted Angel City’s final goal in a 5-1 rout of Portland Thorns FC on 15 October. Angel City finished fifth and reached the playoffs for the first time, where they were eliminated by Seattle Reign FC in the quarterfinals. On 29 November 2023, Angel City exercised a one-year contract option, extending her stay through 2024. In February 2024, she suffered a season-ending ACL injury to her left knee during preseason training in Melbourne, Florida, and on 5 September 2024, the club announced a new contract keeping her at Angel City through 2027.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jun Endo combines sharp technical skill with strong spatial awareness, traits she credits to years of practicing indoors following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. She excels in tight spaces, links play between midfield and attack, and shows composure in finishing positions. Her understanding with Angel City’s coaching staff has allowed her to operate effectively as both a creator and a scorer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Endo’s most memorable club moment came on 29 April 2022, when she scored Angel City’s first-ever regular-season goal. On the international stage, she helped Japan win the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and was part of the senior squads at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, earning her first senior cap on 27 February 2019 against the United States at the SheBelieves Cup.
Jun Endo Career Wins
Jun Endo has built a winning record across club and international football, with the 2019 AFC Women’s Club Championship, the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the 2016 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship among her most significant trophies. With Angel City FC, she helped the club reach its first NWSL playoff appearance in 2023.
Club and International Highlights
Endo opened her club trophy account with the 2019 AFC Women’s Club Championship while at Nippon TV Beleza. Her first Angel City goal came against North Carolina Courage in April 2022, and she added league goals against Kansas City Current, the Chicago Red Stars, and Portland Thorns FC in 2023, helping the expansion side reach the NWSL playoffs in just its second year.
Other Wins and Performances
At youth level, Endo helped Japan finish second at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan with three goals, and she won the 2017 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship in China. She has also featured prominently in the SheBelieves Cup, scoring in Japan’s 3-0 win over Canada in February 2023.
Jun Endo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jun Endo grew up in a close-knit household in Shirakawa, Fukushima, as the youngest of four children. Her father works as a football coach and her mother is a teacher, and her family lived next door to her grandparents, creating a stable environment that nurtured her early love of the game.
Personal Life
Endo has remained largely private about her personal life, with no public information available regarding a spouse or children. Her professional commitments and recovery from the 2024 ACL injury have been the focus of her public profile since she signed a contract extension with Angel City FC that runs through 2027.
2025 Season Performance
Jun Endo enters the 2025 NWSL season with Angel City FC on the road to full recovery from the ACL injury she suffered in February 2024. The club confirmed on 5 September 2024 that she had signed a new contract running through 2027, signalling long-term confidence in her role within the squad.
Her return is expected to strengthen Angel City’s attack, where her combination of tight-space control and intelligent movement has been a hallmark since her debut. With continuity in the coaching staff and a deeper understanding of NWSL demands, Endo is positioned to play a leading creative role for the club throughout the campaign.
Internationally, Endo remains a candidate for selection by the Japan national team as the Nadeshiko Japan continue preparations for major tournaments. Her blend of senior experience, including the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, makes her a valuable figure in the squad heading into 2025.