Chinyelu Bessum Asher (born 20 May 1993) is an American-born Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for AIK, as well as the Jamaica women's national team.
Early life
Chinyelu Asher started playing football at age 9, was taught how to play by her father, Kevin Asher, who is Jamaican. Asher ran track and cross country throughout high school, making repeated appearances to Nationals and Junior Olympics. Simultaneously, Asher played with Freestate United and would play in her school's boys' team during trainings.
College career
Between 2011 and 2013, Asher played for the Purdue Boilermakers. She later transferred to Louisville Cardinals in 2014.
Club career
Asher joined BIIK-Kazygurt in 2016 and played 7 matches of the 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League. She later joined Santa Fe, where her team won the 2017 season and post-season tournament and played all games in the 2017 Copa Libertadores Femenina. In 2018, Asher was invited to attend preseason and was a non-roster player for Washington Spirit. Asher joined Stabæk in January 2019.
Asher re-joined Washington Spirit on 8 April 2021.
International career
Although born in the United States, Asher qualified to represent Jamaica through her father, who is Jamaican. Asher made her debut with the Jamaica U-20 in 2012 during the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. Asher made her senior debut in the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship qualification, on 25 August 2015 versus the Dominican Republic.
Asher was selected for Jamaica's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. She made her World Cup debut during the team's first group stage match against Brazil in Grenoble.
International goals
Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first
Personal life
Asher's mother is of Cameroonian descent and father is of Afro-Jamaican descent, and played soccer collegiately at Howard University. Asher has an older brother named Daniel Asher, who played soccer at Saint Leo University. Asher is the second youngest of five siblings.