Keito Nakamura

Keito Nakamura
Nakamura with Reims in 2025
Personal information
Full name Keito Nakamura[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-28) 28 July 2000
Place of birth Abiko, Chiba, Japan
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Reims
Number 17
Youth career
Kashiwa Eagles TOR'82
Kashiwa Reysol
Konoyama SSS
2012–2017 Mitsubishi Yowa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Gamba Osaka 24 (1)
2018–2019 Gamba Osaka U23 22 (5)
2019–2020 → Twente (loan) 17 (4)
2020-2021 → Sint-Truiden (loan) 5 (1)
2021 → Juniors OÖ (loan) 14 (5)
2021–2023 LASK 54 (20)
2023– Reims 86 (29)
International career‡
2017 Japan U17 12 (8)
2018 Japan U21 2 (0)
2019 Japan U20 4 (0)
2023– Japan 30 (12)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 June 2026

Keito Nakamura (中村 敬斗, Nakamura Keito; born 28 July 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Ligue 2 club Reims and the Japan national team. He plays either as a left winger or a forward.[2][3][4]

Club career

Gamba Osaka

Nakamura joined Gamba Osaka from Kantō Soccer League side Mitsubishi Yowa ahead of the 2018 J1 League season.[5] He made his senior debut at the age of 17 on 24 February 2018 in a 3–2 home defeat by Nagoya Grampus in which replaced Hwang Ui-jo in the 69th minute and 10 minutes later crossed for Shun Nagasawa to head home and make the score 2–2.[6][7]

In total he played 17 J1 League games during his debut campaign and netted 1 goal, the winner in a 2–1 win over V-Varen Nagasaki on 24 November.[8] He also scored once in 7 J.League Cup games and made one substitute appearance in the Emperor's Cup, a home defeat to Kwansei Gakuin University.[3]

Nakamura spent a large part of the second half of the season with Gamba's Under-23 side in J3 League where he netted 4 times in 15 appearances with the goals coming against FC Tokyo U-23, Thespakusatsu Gunma and Azul Claro Numazu.[3]

FC Juniors 00

In February 2021, Nakamura has loaned to 2. Liga (Austria) club FC Juniors OÖ.[9]

LASK

On 11 August 2021, he signed a three-year contract with Austrian club LASK.[10]

Reims

On 10 August 2023, it was announced that he would permanently transfer to Stade Reims of France's Ligue 1.[11] On 12 August, he made his Ligue 1 debut in the opening game against Olympique de Marseille, coming on as a substitute in the 15th minute of the second half. On 26 September, he scored his first goal in Ligue 1 in Round 6 against Lille OSC.

International career

Nakamura has represented Japan at Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 level playing in both the AFC Under-16 Championship in 2016, and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in which he netted 4 times in 4 games before Japan were eliminated by England at the last-16 stage.[2][3]

In March 2023, he was called up by Hajime Moriyasu for the senior national team for friendlies against Uruguay and Colombia. He made his debut against Uruguay on 24 March 2023, coming off the bench in the 89th minute. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.[12] On 15 June, he came on as a substitute from the start of the second half against El Salvador and scored his first goal for the national team.[13] On 12 September, he made his first start for the national team against Turkey and scored two goals.[14]

In January 2024, he was named for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final squads alongside Reims teammate, Junya Itō.[15]

On 15 May 2026, Nakamura was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[16] On 14 June, Nakamura scored his first World Cup goal with a right-footed equalizer in the 57th minute, bringing Japan level at 1–1 with the Netherlands in an eventual 2–2 draw in Japan's World Cup opener.[17]

Style of play

Nakamura is a wide player known for his pace, agility, and direct attacking style. Comfortable as a wing-back or winger, he is noted for his dribbling ability, chance creation, and willingness to take on defenders.[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 May 2026[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gamba Osaka 2018 J1 League 1711071——252
2019 J1 League 701353——136
Total 24123124——388
Twente (loan) 2019–20 Eredivisie 17412———186
Sint-Truiden (loan) 2020–21 Belgian Pro League 5100———51
Juniors OÖ (loan) 2020–21 Austrian 2. Liga 9200———92
2021–22 Austrian 2. Liga 5300———53
Total 14500———145
LASK 2021–22 Austrian Bundesliga 22630—7[a]3—329
2022–23 Austrian Bundesliga 311453———3617
2023–24 Austrian Bundesliga 10————10
Total 542083—73—6926
Reims 2023–24 Ligue 1 25400———254
2024–25 Ligue 1 321161——2[b]04012
2025–26 Ligue 2 291430———3214
Total 862991——209730
Career total 20060209124732023176

International

As of match played 29 June 2026[19]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan 202344
2024115
202582
202671
Total3012
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakamura goal.[19]
List of international goals scored by Keito Nakamura
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
115 June 2023Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan2 El Salvador5–06–02023 Kirin Challenge Cup
212 September 2023Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium3 Turkey2–04–22023 Kirin Challenge Cup
33–0
413 October 2023Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan4 Canada3–04–1Friendly
51 January 2024Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan5 Thailand2–05–0Friendly
69 January 2024Al Ersal Stadium, Doha, Qatar6 Jordan2–06–1Friendly
714 January 2024Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar7 Vietnam3–24–22023 AFC Asian Cup
86 June 2024Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar10 Myanmar1–05–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
95–0
1014 October 2025Ajinomoto Stadium, Chōfu, Japan21 Brazil2–23–22025 Kirin Challenge Cup
1118 November 2025Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan23 Bolivia3–03–02025 Kirin Challenge Cup
1214 June 2026AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States27 Netherlands1–12–22026 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Reims

Individual

  • Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards: Best XI (2024)[21]

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Keito Nakamura Gamba Osaka Player Profile". Gamba Osaka (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "K. Nakamura". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Keito Nakamura J.League Player Profile". J.League English Website. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Gamba Osaka News – Keito Nakamura arrival". Gamba Osaka (in Japanese). 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Schedule & Results Gamba Osaka vs Nagoya Grampus". J.League English Website. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Gamba Osaka vs Nagoya Grampus 2-3". Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Schedule & Results Gamba Osaka vs V-Varen Nagasaki". J.League English Website. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "FC JUNIORS OÖ LEIHT JAPANER NAKAMURA". FC Juniors OÖ (in German). 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "LASK SIGN LEFT WINGER KEITO NAKAMURA". LASK. 11 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "Keito Nakamura, l'aile gauche caviar". Stade de Reims. 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  12. ↑ Church, Michael (24 March 2023). "Substitute Nishimura strikes to earn Japan draw against Uruguay". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "vs El Salvador National Team". JFA. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "vs Türkiye National Team". JFA. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "AFC Asian Cup 2023: Skuad Jepang Rasa Eropa, Inilah Daftar 26 Nama Pemain yang Tercatat!" [AFC Asian Cup 2023: Japanese Squad with European Flavor, Here's the List of 26 Listed Players!]. Kompasiana (in Indonesian). 2 January 2024. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Mitoma misses out as Japan squad named". 15 May 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Maston, Tom (14 June 2026). "Netherlands player ratings vs Japan: Crysencio Summerville produces a moment of magic but drab Dutch concede late to draw World Cup opener". goal.com. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  18. ↑ Benson, Ryan; Jolly, Aryan (20 July 2026). "Bouaddi, Vite, Nakamura and the Breakout Players Who Could Be on the Move After Impressing at the 2026 World Cup". Opta Analyst.
  19. 1 2 Keito Nakamura at National-Football-Teams.com
  20. ↑ Guillemet, Hugo (24 May 2025). "Le PSG s'offre une 16e Coupe de France après une victoire facile en finale contre Reims". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  21. ↑ "JPFA 日本プロサッカー選手会". ニュース：JPFA 日本プロサッカー選手会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 January 2025.
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