Saki Kumagai facts for kids
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Kumagai with Lyon in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 17 October 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender, Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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London City Lionesses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Tokiwagi Gakuen High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Urawa Reds | 44 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Frankfurt | 38 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2021 | Lyon | 152 | (29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Bayern Munich | 39 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | AS Roma | 37 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | London City Lionesses | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Japan U-19 | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Japan U-20 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008– | Japan | 161 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 April 2025 |
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Saki Kumagai (born October 17, 1990) is a famous Japanese footballer. She plays as a midfielder or defender. Currently, she plays for Women's Super League club London City Lionesses. She is also the captain of the Japan national team.
Saki is known for being a very smart player. She can predict what will happen in the game. She is also great at understanding tactics. Many people think she is one of the best female midfielders from Asia ever. She has won many titles with her clubs and her national team. This makes her one of the most successful East Asian footballers.
Kumagai started her professional career in Japan with Urawa Reds in 2009. In 2011, she moved to Europe. She joined Frauen-Bundesliga team FFC Frankfurt. In 2013, she moved to Olympique Lyonnais in France. She played over 240 games for Lyon. She helped them win 19 trophies! This included seven French league titles and five UEFA Women's Champions League titles. She was part of teams that won the "continental treble" four times. This means winning the league, national cup, and Champions League in one season.
After leaving Lyon in 2021, she joined Bayern Munich. She won the German league title with them in the 2022–23 season. Then, in 2023, she moved to Serie A club AS Roma in Italy. In January 2025, she joined London City Lionesses.
Saki Kumagai has played over 100 games for the Japan national team. She is the third most-capped female player for Japan. She first played for Japan when she was just 17 years old in 2008. She has played in four World Cup tournaments. She helped Japan win the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She even scored the winning penalty kick in the final game! She also won a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2010. In 2018, she won the AFC Women's Asian Cup. She became the captain of the national team in 2017.
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Club Career Highlights
Saki Kumagai was born in Sapporo, Japan, on October 17, 1990. After finishing high school, she joined Urawa Reds in 2009. Her team won the L.League championship in her first year.
Playing in Germany
In July 2011, Saki moved to Germany. She joined Frankfurt, a team in the Frauen-Bundesliga. She played there for two seasons.
Success with Lyon
In June 2013, she moved to France to play for Lyon. This was a big move for her career. In the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final, Saki was named the best player. She scored the winning penalty kick for Lyon in that final!
In April 2021, Saki announced she would leave Lyon after eight amazing seasons. The next month, FC Bayern Munich announced she was joining their team. She returned to the German league.
Moving to Italy and England
On June 5, 2023, it was announced that Saki had joined AS Roma in Italy. She signed a three-year contract with them. Then, on January 23, 2025, Saki Kumagai joined London City Lionesses. This brought her to the Women's Super League in England.
National Team Journey
Saki Kumagai first played for the Japan national team on March 7, 2008. She was only 17 years old at the time. The game was against Canada.
Youth World Cups
In August 2008, Saki was chosen for the Japan U-20 national team. She played in the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. In 2010, she was the captain for the U-20 team in the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Winning the World Cup
In 2011, Saki was part of Japan's team that won the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. This was a huge achievement! She scored the winning penalty kick in the final against the United States. She also played in the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2015 World Cup. Japan finished second in both of those competitions.
Becoming Captain
In January 2017, Saki was named Japan's captain. In 2018, Japan won the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. She has played over 100 games for Japan. On November 10, 2019, Saki scored her first goal for Japan in a friendly match. Japan won 2–0 against South Africa.
Saki was part of the Japan squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup. She also played in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2024, she was included in the Japan team for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Saki was also part of the Japan team that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
Honours and Awards
Saki Kumagai has won many awards and championships throughout her career:
Urawa Reds
- Nadeshiko League: 2009
Lyon
- Première Ligue: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Coupe de France: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Trophée des Championnes: 2019
Bayern Munich
- Frauen-Bundesliga: 2022–23
AS Roma
- Serie A Femminile: 2023–24
- Coppa Italia (women): 2023–24
- Supercoppa Italiana (women): 2024
- Japan National Team
- FIFA Women's World Cup - Winner: 2011, Runner-up: 2015
- Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 2012
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2018
- Asian Games: 2010
- East Asian Football Championship: 2010
Japan U20
- AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2009
Individual Awards
- Asian Women's Footballer of the Year: 2019
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2018, 2020
- IFFHS World's Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
- IFFHS AFC Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
- Women's Golden Foot: 2024
See also
In Spanish: Saki Kumagai para niños
- List of women's footballers with 100 or more caps
