Julia Lester (soccer)

Julia Lester

Lester with the Seattle Reign in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Julia Nicole Lester
Date of birth	(1998-01-16) January 16, 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Tampa, Florida, USA
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	Sporting JAX (on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
Number	20
Youth career
	Tampa Bay United
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Florida Gators	86	(3)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Apollon Ladies
2022–2023	Racing Louisville	33	(0)
2024–	Seattle Reign	5	(0)
2025–	→ Sporting JAX (loan)	9	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 31, 2025

Julia Nicole Lester (born January 16, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Sporting Club Jacksonville of the USL Super League, on loan from Seattle Reign FC.

Collegiate career

A family youth and community sciences major, Lester played for the Florida Gators from 2016 to 2019. ^[1]

Club career

Apollon Ladies F.C.

After graduating from the University of Florida in August 2020, Lester signed for Cypriot club Apollon Ladies and played in the UEFA Women's Champions League. ^[2] She was named to the league's Best XI in 2021 and captained the team. ^[3]

Racing Louisville

In March 2022, Lester followed Apollon Ladies' former manager Kim Björkegren and signed for Racing Louisville of the American NWSL. ^[4]

Seattle Reign FC

In January 2024, Lester was traded to fellow NWSL club Seattle Reign. ^[5] She subsequently extended her contract with the Reign until 2025. ^[6]

Sporting Club Jacksonville

On July 9, 2025, Lester returned to her home state of Florida on a loan to USL Super League team Sporting Club Jacksonville through the end of 2025. ^[7] This move marked a reunion, as she rejoined her former college teammate Parker Roberts and her collegiate coaches, Becky Burleigh and Alan Kirkup.

At the end of September, Lester was named to the USL Super League Team of the Month for her strong performances. She made the team as a bench player. ^[8]

Career statistics

College

Season	Games		Scoring
	GP	GS	G	A	PTS	SH	SOG
Florida Gators
2016	22	17	3	3	9	9	5
2017	24	14	0	1	1	7	2
2018	19	17	0	0	0	0	0
2019	21	21	0	1	1	1	0
Career
Career total	86	69	3	5	11	17	7

Professional

As of match played October 31, 2025 ^[9]

Club	Season	Division	League		Cup		Playoffs		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Apollon Ladies F.C.	2020–2021	Cypriot First Division	0	0	2	0	—		2	0
	2021–2022		0	0	4	0	—		4	0
Racing Louisville FC	2022	NWSL	20	0	5	0	—		25	0
	2023		13	0	5	0	—		18	0
Seattle Reign FC	2024		5	0	0	0	—		5	0
Sporting JAX	2025	USL Super League	9	0	0	0	—		9	0
Career total			47	0	16	0	—		63	0

* Apollon Ladies stats reflect ≥ 6 league/Champions League appearances based on available data.

References

1. "Julia Lester - Soccer". Florida Gators.
2. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
3. "Julia Lester".
4. "Racing signs European champion defender Lester".
5. "Julia Lester joins Seattle Reign FC, Sam Hiatt goes to Gotham FC in three-team trade". Sounder at Heart. January 24, 2024.
6. "Seattle Reign FC Extends Defender Julia Lester". Seattle Reign FC.
7. "Seattle Reign FC Loans Defender Julia Lester to Sporting Jax". Seattle Reign FC. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
8. "Gainbridge Super League Team of the Month - September". USL Super League. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
9. "Julia Lester – Player Info". globalsportsarchive.com.

External links

• Julia Lester at Seattle Reign FC
• Julia Lester at Soccerway