Yūki Nagasato facts for kids
![]() Nagasato with Frankfurt in 2016
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 15 July 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2001–2009 | Nippon TV Beleza | 110 | (69) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2013 | Turbine Potsdam | 71 | (48) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013–2014 | Chelsea | 18 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Wolfsburg | 9 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015–2017 | Frankfurt | 35 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2020 | Chicago Red Stars | 56 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | → Brisbane Roar (loan) | 11 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | → Hayabusa Eleven (loan) | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Racing Louisville | 21 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022–2023 | Chicago Red Stars | 27 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | Houston Dash | 19 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 381 | (161) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004–2016 | Japan | 132 | (58) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Yūki Nagasato (永里 優季, Nagasato Yūki, born 15 July 1987) is a famous Japanese former football player. She was known as Yūki Ōgimi (大儀見 優季, Ōgimi Yūki) for a few years. Yūki played as a striker, which means she was a forward player who scored goals. She made history by being the first woman to play for a men's football team in Japan.
Yūki Nagasato played for the Japanese national team from 2004 to 2016. She scored 58 goals in 132 games for her country. She helped Japan win the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011. She was also part of the team that finished second in the World Cup in 2015.
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Yūki Nagasato's Club Career
Starting with Nippon TV Beleza
Yūki Nagasato was born in Atsugi, Japan, on July 15, 1987. She started her professional football journey in 2001. She joined Nippon TV Beleza after playing for their youth team. In 2002, she played her first game in the L.League, which is Japan's top women's football league.
She quickly became a top scorer in the league by 2006. Yūki also helped her team win the league championship six times. These wins were in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Playing in Germany and England
In 2010, Yūki moved to Germany to play for Turbine Potsdam. While there, she became the top goal scorer in the Bundesliga, which is Germany's main football league. She also won the UEFA Women's Champions League with Turbine Potsdam. This is a very important competition for European club teams.
In 2013, she moved to England to play for Chelsea in the FA WSL.
Moving to Wolfsburg and Frankfurt
In early 2015, Yūki joined Wolfsburg in Germany. She wanted to play in a stronger league to prepare for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Later in August 2015, Nagasato moved to Frankfurt. This team had just won the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2015.
Playing in the United States
On May 24, 2017, it was announced that Yūki Nagasato signed with the Chicago Red Stars. This team plays in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States. She played in only six games in 2017 because of an injury. In 2018, she was named Player of the Week for her great performance.
In October 2018, Yūki also played for Brisbane Roar in Australia. She joined them on a temporary loan for the 2018–19 season.
Making History with a Men's Team
On September 10, 2020, Yūki Nagasato made history again. She became the first woman to play for Hayabusa Eleven. This is a men's team in the Kanagawa Prefecture League in Japan. She played for them on loan until the 2021 NWSL season began.
Later Club Moves
On October 26, 2020, a new club called Racing Louisville FC announced Yūki as one of their first players. She played for them in the 2021 NWSL season.
On January 11, 2022, the Red Stars announced that Yūki Nagasato was returning to Chicago. She played for them again for a couple of seasons.
On January 12, 2024, Nagasato signed with Houston Dash. She played for them for a short period.
Yūki Nagasato officially retired from professional football on March 4, 2025.
Yūki Nagasato's International Career
Early Years and Olympic Games
In April 2004, Yūki Nagasato was chosen to play for the Japan national team. Her first game was on April 22 against Thailand. This was during the qualification games for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
She also played for Japan in the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2007 World Cup.
World Cup Success
Yūki was a key player for Japan when they won the 2011 World Cup. In the final game against the United States, she came on as a substitute. The game went to penalty kicks. Even though her penalty was saved, Japan still won the match.
Jersey Numbers
From 2016, Yūki wore the number 10 jersey for Japan. This happened after Homare Sawa, a famous Japanese player, retired. However, after a tournament, the new manager, Asako Takakura, gave the number 10 to another player, Mizuho Sakaguchi. Yūki then started wearing the number 9 jersey.
Yūki Nagasato's Family Life
Yūki Nagasato comes from a family of footballers. Her brother, Genki, is also a professional football player. Her younger sister, Asano, also played for Turbine Potsdam, the same German club where Yūki played.
Yūki got married in July 2011. For a few years, she used her married name, Ōgimi. After her divorce in 2016, she went back to using her maiden name, Nagasato.
Yūki Nagasato's Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
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Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Nippon TV Beleza | 2001 | 0 | 0 | - | - | ||||||
2002 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
2003 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||
2004 | 13 | 3 | - | - | 13 | 3 | |||||
2005 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 6 | - | - | 26 | 24 | |||
2006 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 19 | 20 | |||
2007 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | 24 | 18 | ||
2008 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 23 | 11 | |||
2009 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 5 | - | - | 24 | 12 | |||
Total | 110 | 69 | 21 | 16 | 2 | 3 | - | 133 | 88 | ||
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam | 2009–10 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | 5 | 2 | 16 | 8 | |
2010–11 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 35 | 28 | |
2011–12 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 22 | |||
2012–13 | 22 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 22 | |||
Total | 72 | 47 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 109 | 80 | |
Chelsea | 2013 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | |
2014 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | 20 | 7 | ||
Total | 18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | 25 | 7 | ||
Wolfsburg | 2014–15 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | 4 | 0 | 15 | 6 | |
1. FFC Frankfurt | 2015–16 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | 5 | 1 | 23 | 9 | |
2015–16 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 22 | 4 | ||
Total | 35 | 8 | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 1 | 45 | 13 | ||
Chicago Red Stars | 2017 | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | |||
2018 | 23 | 4 | - | - | - | 23 | 4 | ||||
Total | 29 | 5 | - | - | - | 29 | 5 | ||||
Brisbane Roar | 2018-19 | 11 | 4 | - | - | - | 11 | 4 | |||
Chicago Red Stars | 2019 | 24 | 8 | - | - | - | 24 | 8 | |||
2020 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
2022 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | |
2023 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | |
Racing Louisville | 2021 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
Houston Dash | 2024 | 19 | 3 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | |
Career total | 389 | 163 | 60 | 34 | 8 | 8 | 32 | 21 | 489 | 226 |
International Appearances and Goals by Year
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
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Japan | 2004 | 1 | 0 |
2005 | 9 | 6 | |
2006 | 13 | 9 | |
2007 | 12 | 4 | |
2008 | 17 | 9 | |
2009 | 3 | 0 | |
2010 | 3 | 1 | |
2011 | 17 | 3 | |
2012 | 16 | 9 | |
2013 | 12 | 6 | |
2014 | 9 | 5 | |
2015 | 13 | 3 | |
2016 | 7 | 3 | |
Total | 132 | 58 |
Yūki Nagasato's Achievements and Awards
Yūki Nagasato won many awards and championships during her career.
Club Honours
- Nippon TV Beleza
- L.League: 2002, 2005, 2008
- Empress's Cup: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
- Nadeshiko League Cup: 2007
- 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
- Bundesliga: 2010, 2011
- UEFA Champions League: 2010
- VfL Wolfsburg
- DFB Pokal: 2014–15
International Honours
- Japan
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011 (Winner); 2015 (Runner-up)
- East Asian Football Championship: 2008
- Summer Olympic Games: 2012 (Runner-up)
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014
Individual Awards
- L.League top-goalscorer: 2006
- L-League Best Eleven: 2005, 2006
- Bundesliga top-goalscorer: 2013
See also
In Spanish: Yūki Nagasato para niños
- List of women's footballers with 100 or more international caps