Isa Sakamoto
Japanese footballer (born 2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Isa Sakamoto (坂本 一彩, Sakamoto Isa; born 26 August 2003) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League side KVC Westerlo.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Isa Sakamoto[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 August 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Kumamoto, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Westerlo | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Gamba Osaka | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020 | Gamba Osaka U-23 | 11 | (3) |
| 2022– | Gamba Osaka | 46 | (11) |
| 2023 | → Fagiano Okayama (loan) | 24 | (4) |
| 2025 | → Westerlo (loan) | 19 | (6) |
| 2025– | Westerlo | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021– | Japan U20 | 19 | (11) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 March 2023, 12:44 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Sakamoto made his professional debut for J3 League side Gamba Osaka U-23, the reserve team of Gamba Osaka on 19 September 2020 against Vanraure Hachinohe. He came on as an 86th-minute substitute for Ko Ise as Gamba Osaka U-23 lost 2–3.[4] Sakamoto scored his first goal for Gamba Osaka U-23 on 6 December 2020 against Azul Claro Numazu. He scored in the 87th minute from the penalty spot to give Osaka the 2–1 victory.[5]
In February 2021, Sakamoto was announced as a Type 2 player, meaning he was registered for both Gamba Osaka Youth and the first team.[6] Although unused in the first team, he scored 15 goals in 13 appearances for the JFA U-18 Premier League. In September 2021, it was announced that Sakamoto would be promoted to the first team for the 2022 season.[7]
Sakamoto made his debut for Gamba Osaka in March 2022, in a 2–2 J.League Cup draw with Oita Trinita.[8] He made his J1 League debut in the following month, appearing as a 71st-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw with Kyoto Sanga.[9] In June, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 league victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima.[10] In his first season with Gamba, he made 15 appearances across all competitions, scoring 1 goal.
On 29 December 2022, Sakamoto moved on loan to J2 League club Fagiano Okayama for the 2023 season.[11] He scored on his debut in a 3–2 league victory over Júbilo Iwata. He made 26 appearances throughout the season, scoring 4 goals, before returning to his parent club for the 2024 season.[12]
On his return to Gamba, Sakamoto began the season largely used as a substitute, but throughout April he became a starter and scored three goals in the month. For this, he was awarded the Young Player of the Month award.[13] He continued to participate in the majority of games, culminating in a flurry of goals at the end of the season where he was awarded his second Young Player of the Month award for November/December.[14]
In January 2025, it was announced that Sakamoto would be leaving Gamba Osaka to join Belgian side Westerlo.[15] The contract is a loan until the end of the 2024–25 season, then the transfer becomes permanent and a three-year contract with Westerlo will come into effect.[16]
International career
Sakamoto was called up to the Japan U-20 squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[17]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gamba Osaka U-23 | 2020 | J3 League | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | |||
| Gamba Osaka | 2022 | J1 League | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |
| 2024 | J1 League | 37 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 11 | ||
| Total | 46 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 58 | 12 | |||
| Fagiano Okayama (loan) | 2023 | J2 League | 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 4 | ||
| Westerlo (loan) | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 19 | 6 | — | — | — | 19 | 6 | |||
| Westerlo | 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6 | |||
| Career total | 100 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 25 | ||
- Includes Emperor's Cup
- Includes J.League Cup
