Karen Araya

Karen Andrea Araya Ponce (born 16 October 1990) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Première Ligue club Nantes and the Chile women's national team.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Araya and the second or maternal family name is Ponce.

Karen Araya

Araya with Chile in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Karen Andrea Araya Ponce
Date of birth	(1990-10-16) 16 October 1990 (age 34)[1][2]
Place of birth	Puente Alto, Santiago, Chile
Height	1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Nantes
Number	6
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Unión La Calera
2010–2012	Colo-Colo
2013–2016	Santiago Morning
2016–2017	Colo-Colo
2018	Osasco Audax	7	(1)
2018–2019	Sevilla	26	(1)
2019–2021	Santiago Morning
2022	Sevilla	14	(1)
2022–2025	Madrid CFF	72	(11)
2025–	Nantes	0	(0)
International career‡
2008	Chile U20	3	(0)
2006–	Chile	56	(7)
Medal record Women's football Representing  Chile Pan American Games 2023 Santiago Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 00:11, 16 November 2022 (UTC)

Club career

In 2022, Araya returned to Sevilla after her step in 2018–19 season.^[3]

In the second half 2022, Araya switched to Madrid CFF in the same division.^[4]

On 11 August 2025, Araya joined Première Ligue club Nantes on a deal for a season.^[5]

International career

She represented Chile at the 2023 Pan American Games,^[6] where Chile won the silver medal.^[7] Following the semi-final match against the United States, she returned to her club, Madrid CFF.^[8]

Personal life

Her younger brother, Bernardo, is a futsal player who has played for clubs in both Argentina and France and has been the Chile team captain.^[9]

Career statistics

Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Araya goal.^[10]

List of international goals scored by Karen Araya

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	4 March 2019	Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica	Jamaica	2–2	2–3	Friendly
2	5 April 2019	Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain	Scotland	1–1	1–1
3	4 March 2020	Starlight Sport Complex, Antalya, Turkey	Ghana	1–0	3–0	2020 Turkish Women's Cup
4	7 March 2020		Kenya	2–0	5–0
5				4–0
6	28 November 2020	Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, Santiago de Chile, Chile	Zambia	1–0	1–2	Friendly
7	24 July 2021	Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan	Canada	1–2	1–2	2020 Summer Olympics
8	17 September 2021	Estadio Santa Laura-Universidad SEK, Independencia, Chile	Uruguay	2–2	2–2	Friendly
9	28 November 2021	Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil	India	3–0	3–0	2021 International Women's Football Tournament of Manaus
10	15 November 2022	Estadio Municipal de La Pintana, Santiago, Chile	Philippines	1–0	1–0	Friendly
11	26 September 2023	Quilín Complex, Santiago, Chile	New Zealand	2–1	2–1
12	28 October 2023	Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaiso, Chile	Jamaica	6–0	6–0	2023 Pan American Games
13	5 December 2023	Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna, Santiago, Chile	Peru	2–0	6–0	Friendly

Honours

Colo-Colo

• Primera División (6): 2010 ^[es], 2011 Apertura ^[es], 2011 Clausura ^[es], 2012 Apertura ^[es], 2012 Clausura ^[es], 2017 Apertura ^[es]
• Copa Libertadores (1): 2012

Santiago Morning

• Primera División (2): 2019 ^[es], 2020 ^[es]

Chile

• Copa América Runner-up: 2018
• Turkish Women's Cup: 2020
• Pan American Games Silver Medal: 2023

Individual

• CPD ^[es] - Best Women's Footballer: 2012
• Premios El Gráfico - Best Women's Player: 2017
• Chilean Primera División Top Goalscorer: 2021 ^[es]
• Premios Contragolpe - The Best: 2021
• Premios Contragolpe - Ideal Team: 2021^[11]