Sōta Nakamura
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 October 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Takasaki, Gunma, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Le Havre (on loan from Sanfrecce Hiroshima) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| White Star | |||
| –2017 | Maebashi FC | ||
| 2018-2020 | Maebashi Ikuei High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Meiji University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 48 | (11) |
| 2026– | → Le Havre (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | Japan | 2 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 August 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 July 2025 | |||
Sōta Nakamura (中村 草太, Sōta Nakamura; born 15 October 2002) is a Japanese footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for French Ligue 1 club Le Havre on loan from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and the Japan national team.
Club career
After graduating from Maebashi Ikuei High School, he went on to Meiji University, where he was the top scorer and assist leader in the 97th Kanto University Soccer League in his third year.[1]
On 24 May 2024, it was announced that he would join Sanfrecce Hiroshima from the 2025 season.[2] In the same year, he was named top scorer and assist leader for the second consecutive year at the 98th Kanto University Soccer League, and was also named MVP.[3]
On 12 February 2025, he made his professional debut in the AFC Champions League 2 match against Nam Dinh FC and scored his first professional goal. On the 16th, he played in the J.League opening match against FC Machida Zelvia and scored his first league goal.[4]
On 17 July 2026, Nakamura moved on loan to Le Havre in France.[5]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 23 August 2026:[6]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Meiji University | 2024 | – | 1[a] | 0 | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2025 | J1 League | 32 | 6 | 5[a] | 2 | 5[b] | 1 | 8[c] | 4 | 1[d] | 0 | 51 | 13 |
| 2026 | J1 (100) | 16 | 5 | – | – | 4[e] | 0 | – | 20 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 48 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 71 | 18 | ||
| Le Havre (loan) | 2026–27 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 49 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 73 | 18 | ||
- Notes
- 1 2 Appearances in the Emperor's Cup
- ↑ Appearances in the J.League Cup
- ↑ Four appearances in AFC Champions League Elite, four appearances and four goals in AFC Champions League Two
- ↑ Appearances in the Japanese Super Cup
- ↑ Appearances in the AFC Champions League Elite
International
- As of match played 12 July 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2025 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Gabon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakamura goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 July 2025 | Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea |  Hong Kong | 6–1 | 6–1 | 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
Honours
Club
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
International
Japan
References
- ↑ ゲキサカ編集部 (2024-11-17). "［関東］明治大が2年ぶり8度目優勝!史上初の無敗V、広島内定エース中村草太は2年連続得点王&アシスト王W受賞" [[Kanto] Meiji University wins its eighth championship in two years! First ever undefeated victory, Hiroshima's ace Sota Nakamura wins the top scorer and assist title for the second consecutive year]. ゲキサカ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ↑ "中村草太選手（明治大学）2025シーズンの新加入内定のお知らせ" [Announcement of the selection of Sota Nakamura (Meiji University) for the 2025 season]. サンフレッチェ広島 オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ↑ ゲキサカ編集部 (2024-11-17). "[関東]明治大FW中村草太が文句なしのMVP!「本当にみんなのおかげ」主将として無敗V、個人で2年連続得点&アシスト王W受賞/表彰一覧" [[Kanto] Meiji University FW Sota Nakamura is the undisputed MVP! "It's really all thanks to everyone" Undefeated victory as captain, individual goalscorer and assist leader for two consecutive years / Awards list]. ゲキサカ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ↑ "広島ルーキーFW中村草太がまた決めた!!開幕J1デビューで決勝弾!! 町田は相馬独走ゴールも逆転負け発進" [Hiroshima rookie forward Sota Nakamura scores again! The winner on his J1 debut! Machida loses despite Soma's leadoff goal]. 2025-02-16. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ↑ "Sota Nakamura, nouveau Ciel&Marine !" [Sota Nakamura, the new Ciel&Marine!] (in French). Le Havre AC. 17 July 2026. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
- ↑ Sōta Nakamura at Soccerway
- ↑ "柏vs広島の試合結果・データ(JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ:2025年11月1日)". J. League (in Japanese). 1 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- 2002 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Japanese sportsmen
- Sportspeople from Takasaki
- Football people from Gunma Prefecture
- Men's association football forwards
- Japanese men's footballers
- Japan men's international footballers
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima players
- Le Havre AC players
- J1 League players
- Japanese expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in France
- Japanese expatriate sportspeople in France
- Japanese football midfielder stubs