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	(1986-09-12) 12 September 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Saijō, Ehime, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Full back
Team information
Current team	FC Tokyo
Number	5
Youth career
0000–1998	Kanbai Soccer School
1999–2001	Saijo Kita Junior High School
2002–2004	Higashi Fukuoka High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Meiji University
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)
International career‡
2008	Japan U-23	2	(0)
2008–	Japan	143	(4)
Medal record Representing  Japan AFC Asian Cup Winner 2011 Qatar Runner-up 2019 United Arab Emirates
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 July 2025

Yūto Nagatomo (長友 佑都, Nagatomo Yūto, born 12 September 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 started his career with FC Tokyo in 2007. He quickly became a key player for both his club and the Japan national team. He played in Europe for over ten years. He joined Cesena in 2010. Then he played for Inter Milan for seven years. He made over 200 appearances for Inter and even led the team as captain for a short time. He also played for Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille. In September 2021, he returned to his first club, FC Tokyo.

During his club career, he won several trophies. He won a J.League Cup in 2009 with FC Tokyo. With Inter Milan, he won a 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 received an individual award as AFC's Asian International Player of the Year.

Yūto Nagatomo is Japan's second-most capped player ever. He has played 143 games for Japan and scored four goals. Only Yasuhito Endō has played more games for Japan. Nagatomo first played for the Samurai Blue (Japan's national team nickname) in 2008. This was just a few months after he started his professional career. He has played for Japan in one Olympic Games (in 2008). He also played in four World Cups (in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). He played in three Asian Cups (in 2011, 2015, and 2019). He also played in one Confederations Cup (in 2013). He was part of the team that won the Asian Cup in 2011. He was also on the team that finished second in the same competition in 2019.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at FC Tokyo

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

Moving to Italy: Cesena

In July 2010, Nagatomo moved to Italy. He joined Serie A team Cesena on loan. Cesena had just been promoted to the top league. He quickly became their starting left back. Before he left for Italy, Nagatomo gave a speech to 25,000 fans after a match on July 17, 2010. Cesena later bought him permanently, but then he was sold to Inter Milan.

Playing for Inter Milan

Nagatomo playing for Cesena in 2010

Nagatomo with Inter in 2011

Nagatomo played very well for Cesena and for Japan in the 2011 Asian Cup. Because of this, Cesena fully signed him in January 2011. But before he played any more league games for Cesena, he was loaned to Inter Milan. This made him the first East Asian player to join Inter Milan.

Nagatomo wore the number 55 shirt for Inter. He played his first game for them on February 6, 2011. He came on as a substitute in a Serie A match against Roma, which Inter won 5–3. He showed he could play in different positions, even playing as a right back. On March 6, 2011, Nagatomo scored his first goal for Inter. It was in a 5–2 win against Genoa.

On March 15, Nagatomo showed support for his home country. A terrible earthquake and tsunami had happened in Japan the week before. He carried the Japanese flag around the field during a Champions League match. The flag had the words "You'll Never Walk Alone" on it.

Inter Milan later made Nagatomo's move permanent. He was valued at about €10.95 million. Nagatomo had a very successful season in 2013–14. He scored five goals and made six assists.

In the 2014–15 season, Nagatomo played fewer games. He was the captain for Inter for the first time on September 28, 2014. This was in a match against Cagliari. He had to leave the game early after getting two yellow cards. Nagatomo said he turned down an offer from Premier League team Manchester United in January 2016. He wanted to stay with Inter.

On April 8, 2016, Nagatomo signed a new contract with Inter until June 2019. He played 20 games in the 2016–17 season. On September 16, 2017, he played his 200th game for Inter. This was in a match against Crotone. On December 12, he played 120 minutes in a Coppa Italia match. He scored the winning penalty in a shootout, helping Inter win.

Playing for Galatasaray

On January 31, 2018, Nagatomo joined Turkish club Galatasaray on loan. He stayed for the rest of the 2017–18 season. On June 30, 2018, he joined Galatasaray permanently. On April 20, 2019, he scored his first goal for the club. While at Galatasaray, Nagatomo won two Süper Lig titles in a row (2018 and 2019). He also won a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup in 2019.

Time at Marseille

On August 31, 2020, Nagatomo signed with Ligue 1 club Marseille. He joined them for free. He played his first game for Marseille on September 20, 2020. It was a 1–1 draw against Lille.

Coming Back to FC Tokyo

After his contract with Marseille ended, Nagatomo returned to his first club, FC Tokyo. This happened on September 12, 2021. On September 18, 2021, Nagatomo played his first game for FC Tokyo since leaving for Europe ten years earlier. It was against Yokohama FC.

International Career for Japan

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

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

FIFA World Cup Appearances

He was chosen to play for Japan in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He started all three group games and the Round of 16 match. Japan was knocked out of the tournament after losing on penalties.

Nagatomo was also part of Japan's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He started all three group matches, but Japan was eliminated in the group stage.

He was later selected for the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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

AFC Asian Cup Success

Coach Alberto Zaccheroni picked Nagatomo for the Japan squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He played in every game and helped Japan beat Australia in the final. This was his first international trophy.

Nagatomo in action against Iran at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

He was also selected for the 2019 Asian Cup, where Japan finished as runners-up.

FIFA Confederations Cup

Nagatomo was in Japan's 23-player squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in all three group games before Japan was eliminated.

Reaching 100 Caps

Nagatomo played his 100th international game on November 10, 2017. He was the captain in a friendly match against Brazil. This made him only the seventh Japanese player to reach 100 caps.

Currently, with 143 games played, he is Japan's second-most capped player. Only Yasuhito Endo has played more games for Japan (152 caps).

Personal Life

Yūto Nagatomo is married to Japanese actress Airi Taira. They had a long-distance relationship for several years because Airi Taira lived in Japan. Nagatomo proposed to her on the San Siro football pitch in February 2016. They officially got married in January 2017. They have three sons. Both Yūto and Airi appeared in a special TV show about Captain Tsubasa in November 2019.

He studied Political Economy at Meiji University and graduated in 2007.

Honours and Awards

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 National Team

• AFC Asian Cup: 2011
• EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2025

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

Career Statistics

Club Performance

International Performance

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nagatomo goal.

List of international goals scored by Yūto Nagatomo

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	13 November 2008	Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan	Syria	1–0	3–1	Friendly
2	31 May 2009	National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Belgium	1–0	4–0	Friendly
3	8 October 2009	Outsourcing Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan	Hong Kong	2–0	6–0	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
4	10 October 2019	Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan	Mongolia	3–0	6–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

See also

In Spanish: Yūto Nagatomo para niños