Julie Beth Ertz, in short, Julie Ertz is an American soccer player who plays for the United States Women's National Soccer Team and is currently signed to the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League. Awarded with the 'U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year' honor twice, Ertz has been a part of two FIFA Women's World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2019.
The five-foot-seven-inches midfielder of the USWNT, Julie Ertz, also plays as a defensive center back in her club, Chicago Red Stars. With jersey no. 8 and her iconic blue pre-wrapped headband, Ertz displays a strong character with and without the ball in the field. Showing our immense support for her and her team, we present you Julie Ertz's biography.
Sebastian Soto Biography - Soccer Player
Early Life and Family
Julie Ertz was born Julie Beth Johnston on April 6, 1992, in Mesa, Arizona, USA. As the youngest daughter of her parents Kristi Johnston and David Johnston, Julie was raised with her elder sister Melanie Johnston in the 48th state of America.
Julie Ertz was introduced to the soccer world in an early age with her sister. Photo Source: Julie's Instagram.
Julie and her sister were introduced to the soccer world at an early age. After starting her soccer career at her local AYSO region, Julie and her sister played for Sereno Soccer Club in Phoenix. At just age 12, Julie was able to perform at the highest level for the team. She went on to be a vital part of the team from 2004 to 2010 on their U13 through U19 teams. Showing signs of a young prodigy, Ertz performed brilliantly and wore the captain armband in the team. During her time, she went on to win nine state titles with the club.
Education and College Career
Talking about her alma maters, Julie Ertz attended Dobson High School in Mesa from 2006 to 2010. Rather than joining a soccer team at her school, she stayed committed to the Sereno SC until she went off to college.
In 2010, Ertz enrolled in Santa Clara University, where she became a star midfielder for the Broncos women's soccer team. In her freshman year, she was able to pull off five assists and recorded the third-most shots for the team while playing 20 games in the season. In the same year, she was named WCC Freshman of the Year.
Julie Ertz played for Santa Clara University in her college career. Photo Source: Julie's Instagram.
Before graduating with a major in communications degree in 2013, Ertz was awarded several awards for her solid college career performance. During her three-year-long journey with the college team, she scored many game-winning goals and provided numerous assists for the team. Overall, Julie made 79 appearances, scored 31 goals, and was honored with many prestigious awards with the Broncos.
Professional Career
Julie Ertz has built an impressive soccer history and is decorated with many reputed titles in her career. Being a star player of the United States Women's National Team, Ertz has undoubtedly contributed her blood, sweat, and tears to the team and helped the United States win their fourth World Championship title. Not to mention her club career with Chicago Red Stars, where she performs at the highest level in the NWSL. Let's see the inception of Julie Ertz's professional career.
Club Career
After being selected as third overall in the first round of the 2014 NSWL College Draft, Julie Ertz signed her first professional contract with the Chicago Red Stars in early 2014. In the same year, she made her debut with the team on April 19, scoring the only goal of the match against Western New York Flash. Appearing in 21 games on her first season with the team, she was named Rookie of the Year in 2014.
Although considered a great signing in her debut season, Ertz made few appearances over the next two seasons at the club due to commitment with the US women's national team. In the 2017 season, Ertz was assigned a new role as an attacking midfield on the team. Taking up a new position in the midfield, she started the season with a match-winning goal and subsequently led Chicago to reach the championship semi-finals.
Julie Ertz currently plays for Chicago Red Stars in NWSL. Photo Source: Julie's Instagram.
In the 2019 season, she started all 16 games for the team and played a crucial part in taking the team to its first appearance in the NWSL Championship. Unfortunately, the team lost the final match to North Carolina Courage.
As of 2021, she is still involved with Chicago Red Stars and is performing at the highest level for the squad. With over six years in the club, Ertz has developed her playing style and has become a strong team player. It looks like Julie is on her way to becoming the club's legend in the upcoming years.
International Career
In 2012, Julie Ertz captained the US U-20 national women's national soccer team, which won the 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. In honor of her marvelous performance, she was awarded the Bronze Ball in the competition.
Ertz was first called up to the senior national team in January 2013 and debuted on February 9, 2013, in a match against Scotland. She was also a part of the USWNT roster that qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
On February 21, 2015, Ertz was called up to the 25-player roster for the 2015 Algarve Cup in Portugal. The team was proven to be a strong squad in the tournament, advancing to the final against France on March 11. During the match, Ertz scored her first international goal in a 2-0 win against France.
The same year, Ertz represented the United States at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup with her 23-player national squad. The team went on to win 2-0 against Germany to advance to the World Cup final. In the final match against Japan on July 5, Ertz attempted to block the opponent's free-kick but instead scored an own goal. Despite the error, the United States went on to win the game and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup title.
In 2016, Ertz was called up to the 20-player roster, which qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The United States won the tournament with a 2-0 win over Canada on February 21. In the same year, Ertz played a crucial role in helping the United States Women's National Team to win the 2016 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 win over Germany in their final game.
At the start of 2017, the US Women National Team's then-coach, Jill Ellis, shifted Ertz from her usual center back position to a more controlling defensive center midfield position. She started to shine significantly under her new role and received the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award in 2017.
Ertz appeared in her second World Cup in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. The United States impressively defended their title with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final. Ertz displayed a powerful performance in the competition and was nominated alongside teammates Rose Lavelle, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe for the best female player. Despite such strong contenders for the award, Ertz earned the 'US Soccer's Female Player of the Year award in 2019.
To sum up her international career, it is safe to say that Ertz has become a solid midfield maestro in the USWNT, who continues to serve the team to reach further heights in the future.
Julie Ertz Net Worth and Salary
Looking at her incredible career highlights, one can guess Julie Ertz's net worth to be tallied in millions. Being a star player for both club and country, Julie Ertz is also expected to earn thousands of dollars as her salary. However, as we all know, USWNT's female players earn less than USMNT's men players who play the same sport. Since the USWNT's players sued the USSF in March 2019, there has been an ongoing legal battle demanding equal pay for their female players. With that being said, it is also very true that Ertz has amassed a fortune in her career. Let's have a peek at Julie Ertz's career earnings.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Julie Ertz's net worth is estimated to be $3 million. The multi-millionaire player accumulated this grand fortune mainly through her salary and endorsement deals.
In an article published by ESPN, USWNT's contracted players have a base salary of $100,000 per year with an additional $67,500 for the Tier 1 players. The women also have different incentive-based bonuses for every win. While USWNT's women are still fighting the battle for equal pay, NWSL made significant improvements to its salary and compensation packages in 2020. The minimum salary was raised to $20,000 from $16,538 in 2019, and the overall salary cap is increased to $650,000.
Being a vital part of the United States women's national team and Chicago Red Stars, Ertz might have banked huge paychecks for her contributions to the team. With ongoing issues concerning equal pay among men and women in the soccer profession, Ertz's salary might surge in the future, eventually adding to her net worth.
Not to mention the USWNT's historic world cup wins this decade. Julie Ertz and her soccer warriors have proved yet again that the US women's national soccer team is the best in the world. Being the 2019 World Cup Winners, USWNT would earn $4 million as their total prize money. Ertz might have cashed in a hefty amount from the prize money and bonuses as she took the gold medal home. Plus, the sponsorship deals might have profited Ertz and her team after the historic winning streak in the 2019 world cup.
To sum up, Julie Ertz's net worth is mainly shaped by her earnings from salaries and bonuses from her career as a soccer player. Although women soccer players earn much less than their male counterparts, Julie Ertz and her team keep pushing themselves to the upcoming challenges in the soccer world.
Furthermore, Julie is enjoying a comfortable life with her husband, Zach, who himself has an estimated net worth of $16 million. After signing a $42 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016, Zach bought a $1.25 million condo in the lavish Waterfront Square complex. The luxurious home offers spectacular views of the Delaware River.
The Love Story of Julie and Zach Ertz
The story goes - Julie Ertz and Zach Ertz first met at a Stanford baseball game in 2012. Both were amazed by the other's personality and soon began dating. The couple's long-distance relationship started when Zach was selected in the 2013 draft by GM Howie Roseman and the Chipster, while Chicago Red Stars picked Julie in the NWSL draft the next January.
After years of dating and supporting each other in their respective career, the Philadelphia Eagles tight end, Zach Ertz, took his soccer-star girlfriend to the stadium where they first met and popped the big question. The moment lit up when Julie said "Yes" to her partner. In February 2016, Julie Johnston Ertz became engaged to Zach Ertz at Klein Field, the Stanford University baseball stadium.
Julie Ertz got married to her long-time boyfriend Zach Ertz at a beach in California. Photo Source: Julie's Instagram.
Next year, the big day arrived, and the power couple tied the knot. With the help of their wedding planner Kelsey Events, Julie Ertz married Zach Ertz on the beautiful spring day of March 26, 2017, in Santa Barbara, California, at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The pair exchanged vows in front of their family and friends at a beach in the seaside ceremony beside the Pacific Ocean. With lanterns and white petals lined at the bride and the groom's aisle, the couple exchanged vows inside a flower-adorned ceremony structure above the altar decorated with hydrangea, roses, and eucalyptus. Beside his groomsmen, including his fellow Philadephia Eagle teammate, Trey Burton, Zach was pronounced Julie Ertz's husband.
After their nuptials, the newly wedded couple jetted off to Hawaii for their honeymoon. As for now, both Julia and Zach are considered one of the best in their respective teams. While both are persistently dedicated to their profession, they are also equally engaged in their love life, supporting each other in their critical moments.
The athlete couple has not shared any news regarding children, but, being a fan of Zach and Julie Ertz, we hope to hear the good news soon from the sports power couple.
The Ertz Family Foundation
Many people don't know this, but Julie is also a dedicated philanthropist. Julie Ertz, along with her husband Zach Ertz, launched the Ertz Family Foundation in 2017, after his Haiti trip heavily impacted the football player.
The foundation provides grants to Philadelphia Charity organizations and offers tuition and cost coverages for Haitian orphans. Plus, they have been providing many opportunities for youth to learn the value of exercise, nutrition, work ethic, teamwork, and many more, which could be helpful in their sports career.
Trivia and Facts
- Julie Ertz loves Mexican food, especially steak burritos and tacos.
- She has been sponsored by Chipotle, Mango Board, and Tiesta Tea.
- She follows the Christian religion.
