Hikaru Kitagawa
Japanese footballer (born 1997)
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Hikaru Kitagawa (北川 ひかる, Kitagawa Hikaru; Japanese: [kitaɡawa hikaɾɯ]; born May 10, 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Everton and the Japan national team.
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Kitagawa with BK Häcken in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Hikaru Kitagawa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | May 10, 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Everton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2015 | JFA Academy Fukushima | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Urawa Reds | 43 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Albirex Niigata | 76 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | 22 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | BK Häcken | 17 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Everton | 15 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Japan U-17 | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Japan U-20 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017– | Japan | 31 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:53, 19 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 07:26, 20 April 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Kitagawa was born in Kanazawa on May 10, 1997. After graduating from JFA Academy Fukushima, she joined Urawa Reds in 2015. She played as regular right side back from first season. However her opportunity to play decreased from 2017. In September 2018, she moved to Albirex Niigata.[1]
On 19 August 2024, Kitagawa was announced at BK Häcken, becoming the first Japanese player to play for the club.[2]
In July 2025, Kitagawa signed for Women's Super League club Everton.[3] On her debut for the club, she scored against Manchester City in the 82nd minute on 24 September 2025.[4]
International career
Kitagawa played for Japan U-17 national team at 2014 U-17 World Cup and Japan U-20 national team at 2016 U-20 World Cup. Japan won the championship in 2014 and took third place in 2016.[5] In 2017, she was selected by the Japan national team for the 2017 Algarve Cup. On March 1, she played against Spain. She played five games for Japan in 2017.
On 14 June 2024, Kitagawa was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[6]
Kitagawa was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.[7]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 16 May 2026[8]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Urawa Reds | 2015 | Nadeshiko League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Nadeshiko League | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | 26 | 5 | ||
| 2017 | Nadeshiko League | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | ||
| 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total | 43 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 6 | ||
| Albirex Niigata | 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | |
| 2019 | Nadeshiko League | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | WE League | 20 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23 | WE League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 76 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 4 | ||
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2023–24 | WE League | 22 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 31 | 8 | |
| BK Häcken | 2024 | Damallsvenskan | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2025 | Damallsvenskan | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | ||||
| 17 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 4 | |||
| Everton | 2025–26 | Women's Super League | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 20 | 2 | |
| Career total | 173 | 16 | 21 | 5 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 242 | 24 | ||
- Includes Empress's Cup, Svenska Cupen
- Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, WE League Cup
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Women's Champions League
International
- As of match played 18 April 2026[9]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 31 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kitagawa goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 July 2024 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France |  Nigeria |
3–1 | 3–1 | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| 2 | 26 October 2024 | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan |  South Korea |
1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
Honours
INAC Kobe Leonessa
U17 Japan
Japan U20
Japan
