Keisuke Gotō
Japanese footballer (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keisuke Gotō (後藤 啓介, Gotō Keisuke; born 3 June 2005) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden, on loan from Anderlecht, and the Japan national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 June 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Sint-Truiden (on loan from Anderlecht) | ||
| Number | 42 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2017 | Kawai SC | ||
| 2018–2022 | Júbilo Iwata | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Júbilo Iwata | 33 | (7) |
| 2024 | → RSCA Futures (loan) | 14 | (6) |
| 2024– | RSCA Futures | 16 | (7) |
| 2025– | Anderlecht | 6 | (2) |
| 2025– | → Sint-Truiden (loan) | 26 | (10) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2020 | Japan U16 | 4 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Japan U18 | 2 | (1) |
| 2025 | Japan U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | Japan | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 | |||
Club career
Jubilo Iwata
Born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Gotō joined Júbilo Iwata's academy in 2018;[2] he then came through the club's youth ranks,[3][4] while attending Iwata Higashi High School,[2] and made his first-team debut on 20 July 2022, coming on as a substitute against Tokyo Verdy in the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup.[5] In October of the same year, he signed his first professional contract with the club.[2][6]
In January 2023, Gotō was officially promoted to Iwata's senior team ahead of the 2023 J2 League season.[3][7][8] On 18 February 2023, he made his league debut aged 17 years and 260 days, coming on as a substitute for Kenyu Sugimoto in the 64th minute before scoring a brace in a 2–3 home defeat to Fagiano Okayama, breaking Iwata's club record for youngest scorer previously held by Naohiro Takahara, who scored aged 18 years and 290 days.[4][9][10][11] On March 18, Gotō made his first professional start in a 2–2 draw against Shimizu S-Pulse in the Shizuoka derby and scored in the 2nd minute.[12] Throughout the season, the striker scored seven goals in 33 league appearances for Iwata,[13][14] helping the team finish second in the league table and, as a result, gain promotion back to the J1 League after a single year of absence.[15][16]
Anderlecht
On 28 November 2023, Belgian Pro League side Anderlecht announced that Gotō would join the team on a season-long loan, with an option-to-buy, starting from 1 January 2024.[13][14][17] He was initially assigned to the club's reserve team, RSCA Futures.[13][18]
On 12 January 2024, he made his debut for RSCA Futures, scoring a penalty kick in a 1–1 league draw against Beerschot.[19] Gotō finished the season with six goals and one assist from 14 appearances. On 5 December, Anderlecht permanently signed Gotō until June 2028.[20]
On 16 January 2025, he made his debut for Anderlecht, coming off the bench in the 40th minute in a 1–0 win against Antwerp in the 1st leg of the Belgian Cup semifinals.[21] On 19 January, Gotō made his league debut against K.V. Kortrijk, replacing Luis Vázquez in the 83rd minute.[22] On 26 January, he made his first start for Anderlecht, scoring a header in the 24th minute assisted by Thorgan Hazard in a 4–1 victory against K.V. Mechelen.[23] On 30 January, Gotō made his UEFA Europa League debut against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, in which he scored in the 79th minute, making the game 2–4. Anderlecht went on to lose the match 3–4.[24] Gotō spent most of the 2024–25 season with RSCA Futures, making 16 appearances for them; scoring seven while assisting two. For Anderlecht, Gotō made ten appearances in all competitions and scored three goals.[25]
Loan to Sint-Truiden
On 7 August 2025, Gotō was loaned out to fellow Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden on a deal excluding an option to buy.[26] Gotō played his first game for Sint-Truiden on 8 August against Dender, coming on in the 80th minute for Andrés Ferrari.[27] Gotō scored his first goal for Sint-Truiden against La Louvière in the 91st minute assisted by Rihito Yamamoto on 17 August, making the game 2–1.[28] On 3 December, Gotō scored a brace in a 3–3 draw against Antwerp in the Croky Cup. However, Sint-Truiden lost the game on penalties, eliminating them from the tournament.[29] On 26 December, Gotō scored another brace, this time against Standard Liège in a 2–1 win in the Pro League.[30] On 16 January 2026, Gotō won the Pro League December Player of the Month award after scoring three goals with one assist.[31][32]
International career
Gotō was a youth international for Japan, having represented the under-18 national team.[33][34]
On 6 November 2025, Gotō was called up to play for Japan by head coach Hajime Moriyasu to play in the Kirin Challenge Cup for a set a matches against Ghana and Bolivia.[35] On 15 November, Gotō made his national team debut when he replaced Ayase Ueda in the 75th minute in a 2–0 win against Ghana.[36]
Career statistics
- As of match played 31 January 2026[37]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Júbilo Iwata | 2022 | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | J2 League | 33 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 39 | 7 | ||
| Total | 33 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 40 | 7 | |||
| RSCA Futures (loan) | 2023–24 | Challenger Pro League | 14 | 6 | — | — | — | 14 | 6 | |||
| 2024–25 | Challenger Pro League | 15 | 5 | — | — | — | 15 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 29 | 11 | — | — | — | 29 | 11 | |||||
| RSCA Futures | 2024–25 | Challenger Pro League | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||
| Anderlecht | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 1 | 10 | 3 | |
| Sint-Truiden (loan) | 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 23 | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 93 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 104 | 32 | ||
- Includes Emperor's Cup, Belgian Cup
- Includes J.League Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
Individual
- Belgian Pro League Player of the Month: December 2025[31]