Sōta Kitano
Japanese footballer (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sōta Kitano (北野 颯太, Kitano Sōta; born 13 August 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg and the Japan national team.
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Kitano with Red Bull Salzburg in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sōta Kitano[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 August 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Wakayama, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Red Bull Salzburg | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2013 | Alma Futsal Club | ||
| 2014–2016 | Arterivo Yuasa | ||
| 2017–2022 | Cerezo Osaka | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020 | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 8 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | Cerezo Osaka | 68 | (8) |
| 2025– | Red Bull Salzburg | 16 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Japan U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2019 | Japan U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Japan U20 | 19 | (6) |
| 2025– | Japan | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:04, 22 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Club career
On 25 October 2020, Kitano made his league debut against Gamba Osaka U-23.[3] In doing so, he became the youngest player to debut in an official match at 16 years, 2 months and 12 days, a record formerly held by forward Yoichiro Kakitani.[4]
On 18 February 2022, Kitano was registered as a type 2 player for J League matches.[5] On 25 February 2022, he signed a professional contract with the club.[6] Kitano scored his first professional goal against Kashima Antlers on 2 March 2022, scoring in the 12th minute. At 17 years, 6 months and 17 days old, he became the club's youngest player to score in an official match, breaking Takumi Minamino's record of 18 years, 2 months and 7 days old when he scored his first professional goal.[7] He won the 2022 New Hero Award.[4] On 6 June 2023, Kitano scored his first J1 goal against Vissel Kobe on 10 June 2023, scoring in the 90th+3rd minute.[8] In July 2024, he trialled for two weeks with Dutch Eredivisie club Almere City, which was a turning point for him.[9][10]
On 9 June 2025, Kitano signed a five-year contract with Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg.[11][12]
International career
Kitano was called up to the Japan U20s on 7 February 2023 for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.[13]
Kitano was called up to the Japan U20s on 9 May 2023 for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[14]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 22 February 2026[15]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 2020 | J3 League | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Cerezo Osaka | 2022 | J1 League | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | — | — | 29 | 3 | ||
| 2023 | J1 League | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 4 | |||
| 2024 | J1 League | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 | |||
| 2025 | J1 League | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 4 | |||
| Total | 68 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 3 | — | — | 91 | 13 | ||||
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2024–25 | Austrian Bundesliga | — | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Austrian Bundesliga | 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 9[d] | 0 | — | 29 | 5 | |||
| Total | 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 5 | |||
| Career total | 92 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 129 | 18 | ||
- Includes Emperor's Cup, Austrian Cup
- Includes J.League Cup
- Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
- Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 14 November 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Honours
- Individual
- J1 League Young Player of the Month: February/March 2025[16],
