Lily Yohannes develops in Ajax, moves to Lyon and debuts in the United States | American Women’s Football Team

lYaly Yohannes wasted all the time. The 18-year-old became Ajax’s starter when he made his 16-year-old debut for the U.S. international debut last year. Now, with the summer, Yohannes moved to European Power OL Lyonnes and was named the player in the club’s debut, beating Olympic Marseille 3-1.

Born in Springfield, Virginia, Yohannes was given to Eritrea’s parents when her father moved to Europe at the age of 10 after receiving a job in Amsterdam. She joined a team of amateur boys and quickly gained the attention of Ajax, who signed her to Youth Academy at the age of 13.

“You have to sacrifice to play at the highest level… My childhood is different from everyone else, but I think I found a good balance between dedication and enjoying my life outside of football,” Yohannes told The Guardian in an exclusive interview before the start of the season. “From the moment I joined Ajax, I could feel the level of detail, how they tried to implement Ajax and philosophical style of play, and I think that has driven my game tactically and technically. I’ve been very grateful to Ajax for Ajax over the years.”

Yohannes became the youngest male or female, at the age of 15 when she signed a professional contract with Ajax. Seven months later, she became the youngest player in the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the youngest American to compete. After those two months, Yohannes was named in the Champions League victory over Roma 2-0. She has performed well at the domestic and international fronts and won the Johan Cruyff Talent Award for the 2023-24 season and won the Best U-20 Player in the Vrouwen Eredivisie Sports. Yohannes scored five goals and four assists in 20 games, helping Ajax beat Fortuna Sittard in the KNVB Women’s Cup final.

Soon after, the United States and the Netherlands flooded her national teams, and Yohannes finally chose the country she grew up with. When she debuted, she followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, Bokretsion Gebrehiwot, who played for Ethiopia (annexed Eritrea between 1950 and 1993). After a few minutes of entering, she stripped off her opponent and calmly inserted into the home, beating South Korea friendly 3-0. A week after her 17th birthday, Yohannes became the third youngest shooter in USWNT history.

“It has been such an honor to wear an American jersey, and it was a surreal moment to score on my debut,” Yohannes said. “What I remember most was that after scoring, all my teammates ran to celebrate. To share with them, my family and my friends, it’s something I will never forget.”

She continued to excel for Ajax when she graduated from high school. Her performance in Ajax attracted the interest of Ol Lyonnes, who signed a three-year contract on July 7. In just a few short years of space, Yohannes has turned from another American abroad to a major signing for one of the most powerful teams in women’s football.

“I was really excited when Lyon showed interest. Everything they did over the years, what they won, they pushed the women’s game further on the French and European stage by showing dominance,” Yohannes said. “Obviously, you have to adapt to the changes in the environment, but my teammates and staff are helping me settle in, and I love playing with many world-class players that I can learn. Lyon is a very ambitious club known for winning, so I want to be part of it and win as many championships as possible.”

It’s obvious why Yohannes is regarded as one of the youngest talents in football. She glided inward and agility with the grace and agility of a senior midfielder, gliding in a crowded area where she could spot the players 50 yards ahead and pick her perfectly through the ball, and she had the intelligence and expectation to find an inch of space before driving a powerful shot.

“I can describe myself as a creative midfielder,” Yohannes said. “I really like to be involved in the drama and get on the ball and help instructing and distributing the ball…every day, I just want to keep researching the little details to improve my game.”

Most importantly, though, she never shrinks from the biggest occasions, setting an example for her teammates with her hard work rate and measuring adventures on and on the ball. It was this fierce competitive instinct that brought her to the top of the women’s game, and since she was a girl from Virginia, she had been developing against her brother in 2V2 games against her father (they played football in the Netherlands).

“I’ve been chasing them and trying to beat them. They’re bigger than me, so even if it’s tough, I’ve always had that competitiveness to win,” she said. “We always train together, push each other, and we want to meet each other.”

Ol Lyonnes is France’s dominant force in women’s football, winning a record eight women’s Champions League titles and playing Première Ligue in 18 of the past 19 seasons. Now they chase a fifth straight championship under new manager Jonatan Giráldez’s former Barcelona Women and Washington Spirit’s former manager Jonatan Giráldez.

“Jonatan really makes his game style clear, and he wants us to attack and defend…the training sessions are all high-intensity, weekly, and it’s really what we’re building, and it’s really positive,” Yohannes said.

If there are any signs in the first game, they will count on Yohannes to ship the goods and make further progress.