Yūto Nagatomo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yūto Nagatomo
長友 佑都

Nagatomo with Galatasaray in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Yūto Nagatomo
Date of birth	(1986-05-16) 16 May 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Saijō, Ehime, Japan
Height	1.70 m
Playing position	Full back
Club information
Current club	FC Tokyo
Number	5
Youth career
1999–2001	Saijo Kita Junior High School
2002–2004	Higashi Fukuoka High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2011	FC Tokyo	72	(5)
2010–2011	→ Cesena (loan)	16	(0)
2011–2018	Inter Milan	170	(9)
2018	→ Galatasaray (loan)	15	(0)
2018–2020	Galatasaray	32	(2)
2020–2021	Marseille	25	(0)
2021–	FC Tokyo	92	(0)
National team‡
2008	Japan U-23	2	(0)
2008–	Japan	142	(4)
Honours Representing  Japan AFC Asian Cup Winner 2011 Qatar Runner-up 2019 United Arab Emirates
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 September 2024. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 December 2022

Yūto Nagatomo (長友 佑都, Nagatomo Yūto, born 16 May 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer. He plays as a full back for J1 League club FC Tokyo. He also plays for the Japan national team.

Yūto Nagatomo went to Meiji University. He started his professional football journey with FC Tokyo in 2007. He quickly became a key player for both his club and the Japan national team. He then played in Europe for over ten years. He joined Cesena in 2010. After that, he played for famous clubs like Inter Milan for seven years. He even wore the captain's armband for a short time at Inter. He also played for Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille. In September 2021, he returned to his first club, FC Tokyo.

During his club career, Nagatomo won several trophies. He won the J.League Cup with Tokyo in 2009. With Inter Milan, he won the Coppa Italia in 2011. At Galatasaray, he won two Turkish titles in 2018 and 2019. He also won a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup in 2019 with Galatasaray. In 2013, he won an individual award as the AFC Asian International Player of the Year.

Nagatomo has played 142 games for Japan, scoring four goals. This makes him Japan's second-most capped player ever. Only Yasuhito Endō has played more games. He first played for Japan in 2008, soon after starting his professional career. He has played in one Olympic Games (in 2008). He also played in four World Cups in a row (2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). He was part of the team that won the Asian Cup in 2011. He also helped Japan reach the final of the same competition in 2019.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at FC Tokyo

Nagatomo officially joined FC Tokyo in 2008 while still studying at Meiji University. However, he had already played in a J.League Cup game in 2007 as a special young player. He played 84 games for FC Tokyo during his four years there.

Moving to Italy: Cesena and Inter Milan

In July 2010, Nagatomo moved to Italy. He was loaned to Serie A team Cesena. He quickly became their starting left back. Before leaving Japan, he gave a speech to 25,000 fans. After his loan, Cesena bought him permanently.

Nagatomo playing for Cesena in 2010

Nagatomo with Inter in 2011

Because he played so well for Cesena and Japan, Inter Milan wanted him. In January 2011, he was loaned to Inter Milan. This made him the first East Asian player to join Inter Milan. He wore the number 55 shirt.

Nagatomo played his first game for Inter on February 6, 2011. He came on as a substitute in a match against Roma. Inter won that game 5–3. He quickly showed he could play in different positions. On March 6, 2011, he scored his first goal for Inter in a 5–2 win against Genoa.

On March 15, he showed support for Japan after a big earthquake and tsunami. He carried the Japanese flag around the field during a Champions League match. He was one of the first Japanese footballers to play in the Champions League quarter-finals.

After the season, Inter Milan bought Nagatomo permanently from Cesena. He continued to play well for Inter. In the 2011–12 season, he helped Inter win games with his assists and goals. He scored his first goal of that season against Fiorentina. He also scored against Genoa a few days later.

Nagatomo had his best season under coach Walter Mazzarri in 2013–14. He scored five goals and made six assists that season. In September 2014, he was even the captain for Inter for the first time. He played his 200th game for Inter on September 16, 2017. He also scored the winning penalty in a shootout against Pordenone in the Coppa Italia.

Playing in Turkey: Galatasaray

On January 31, 2018, Nagatomo joined Turkish club Galatasaray on loan. The deal became permanent in June 2018. He scored his first goal for Galatasaray in April 2019. With Galatasaray, Nagatomo won two Süper Lig titles in 2018 and 2019. He also won the Turkish Cup and the Turkish Super Cup in 2019.

Short Time in France: Marseille

On August 31, 2020, Nagatomo signed with French club Ligue 1 team Marseille. He joined them for free. He played his first game for Marseille on September 20, 2020.

Coming Home: Return to FC Tokyo

After his contract with Marseille ended, Nagatomo returned to his first club, FC Tokyo. He rejoined them on September 12, 2021. He played his first game back for FC Tokyo on September 18, 2021. This was his first game for the club in over 10 years.

International Career

Nagatomo during the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between Belgium and Japan on July 2, 2018.

Nagatomo first played for Japan on May 24, 2008. This was in a friendly game against Ivory Coast. He scored his first goal for Japan on November 13, 2008, against Syria. He also played for Japan's Under-21 team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

World Cup Appearances

He was chosen to play for Japan in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played in all three group games and the Round of 16 match. Japan was knocked out after a penalty shootout.

Nagatomo playing in Japan's famous 2–1 victory against Germany in the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Nagatomo also played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He started all three group matches, but Japan did not make it past the group stage. He was also selected for the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Asian Cup Success

Nagatomo was part of the Japan team for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He played in every game. Japan won the final against Australia, giving him his first international trophy. He also played in the 2019 Asian Cup, where Japan finished as runners-up.

Nagatomo in action against Iran at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

On November 10, 2017, Nagatomo played his 100th game for Japan. He was the captain in a friendly game against Brazil. This made him only the 7th Japanese player to reach 100 international games. With 142 games, he is Japan's second-most capped player.

Personal Life

Yūto Nagatomo is married to Japanese actress Airi Taira. They had a long-distance relationship for several years. Nagatomo proposed to her on the San Siro football pitch in February 2016. They got married in January 2017 and have three sons. Nagatomo also studied Political Economy at Meiji University, graduating in 2007.

Honours

FC Tokyo

• J.League Cup: 2009

Inter Milan

• Coppa Italia: 2010–11

Galatasaray

• Süper Lig: 2017–18, 2018–19
• Turkish Cup: 2018–19
• Turkish Super Cup: 2019

Japan

• AFC Asian Cup: 2011

Individual Awards

• J.League Best XI: 2009
• AFC Asian International Player of the Year: 2013
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019
• AFC Opta All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020
• AFC Fans' All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020
• AFC Asian Cup All-time XI: 2023

See also

In Spanish: Yūto Nagatomo para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more caps