Kaoru Mitoma

Kaoru Mitoma (三笘 薫, Mitoma Kaoru, born 20 May 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Union SG on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. He also represents the Japan national team.

Kaoru Mitoma
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-05-20) 20 May 1997
Place of birth Kanagawa, Japan[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Union SG
(on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number 18
Youth career
Saginuma SC
0000–2015 Kawasaki Frontale
2016–2019 University of Tsukuba
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Kawasaki Frontale 50 (21)
2021– Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2021– → Union SG (loan) 22 (6)
National team‡
2018 Japan U21 3 (1)
2017–2021 Japan U23 9 (4)
2021– Japan 3 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:41, 1 May 2022
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Born in Ōita, Mitoma grew up in the Kawasaki area and joined the Frontale academy at the U10 level. Offered a promotion from the U-18s to the senior team coached by Yahiro Kazama, he chose instead the University of Tsukuba, a Japanese university football powerhouse who had recently produced Frontale stalwarts such as Shogo Taniguchi and Shintaro Kurumaya. Mitoma professed to feel unprepared to enter professional football at age 18, citing the struggles of fellow Kawasaki academy products Ko Itakura and Koji Miyoshi to win regular playing time with the senior squad.[2][3]

During his time at Tsukuba, Mitoma was selected to represent Japan at the 2017 and 2019 Universiade tournaments, as well as the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Toulon Tournament with the under-23 national team. Playing in the Kanto University Soccer League with Tsukuba, he was named to the all-league XI in his final three seasons while majoring in physical education. In addition, Tsukuba appeared in the 2016 and 2017 Emperor's Cup tournaments making an upstart run to the round of 16 in the latter edition, upsetting J.League clubs YSCC Yokohama, Vegalta Sendai (against whom Mitoma scored a brace), and Avispa Fukuoka along the way. While enrolled in college, Mitoma also occasionally joined Frontale's senior team for training sessions as a Special Designated Player starting in his sophomore year, appearing in a single J.League Cup match in 2019.[3]

Kawasaki Frontale

In July 2018, Mitoma agreed on a professional contract with Kawasaki Frontale senior team starting in 2020.[4] He made his official pro debut on the opening matchday of the 2020 J1 League and quickly established himself after the league resumed following the COVID-19 outbreak, becoming the first rookie to reach double digits in goals in the first division since Yoshinori Muto.[3]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 10 August 2021, Mitoma joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on a four-year deal, joining Union SG on loan for the first year.[5] He scored his first goal for Union SG on 16 October, where he scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 home victory over Seraing.[6]

International career

After being capped at youth level, Mitoma was called up to the Japan senior squad for the first time in November 2021 for 2022 World Cup qualfiers against Vietnam and Oman.[7] He made his debut on 16 November, coming on as a substitute in the 1–0 away win over Oman.[8]

On 24 March 2022, Mitoma scored his first two international goals in a 2–0 World Cup qualification win against Australia, confirming Japan's qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[9]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 1 May 2022[10][11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
University of Tsukuba 2016 – 10–––10
2017 42–––42
Total –52–––52
Kawasaki Frontale 2018 J1 League 000000––00
2019 J1 League 000010––10
2020 J1 League 30132253––3718
2021 J1 League 20800003[lower-alpha 3]21[lower-alpha 4]22412
Total 5021226332126230
Brighton & Hove Albion 2021–22 Premier League 000000–0000
Union SG (loan) 2021–22 Belgian Pro League 22621––00247
Career total 7227956332129139
  1. Includes Emperor's Cup, FA Cup and Belgian Cup
  2. Includes J.League Cup and EFL Cup
  3. All appearances in AFC Champions League
  4. Appearance in Japanese Super Cup

International
As of match played 29 March 2022[12]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan
202110
202222
Total32
As of match played 29 March 2022[12]
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mitoma goal.
List of international goals scored by Kaoru Mitoma
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
124 March 2022Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia Australia1–02–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
22–0

Honours

Kawasaki Frontale

Individual

References
  1. "三笘薫さん（サッカー）インタビュー". Players Japan. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  2. Ando, Takahito (28 May 2018). "フロンターレ昇格を蹴って進学。筑波大・三笘薫、人生の選択について。". Sports Graphic Number (in Portuguese). Bungeishunjū. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. Bontempo, Tiago (5 September 2020). "Mitoma, a sensação da J.League que só virou profissional aos 22 anos para 'garantir seu futuro' na faculdade". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  4. "三笘薫選手加入内定のお知らせ". Kawasaki Frontale. 13 July 2018.
  5. "Mitoma signs for Albion". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  6. "Royale Union Saint-Gilloise Union SG - RFC Seraing: 4-2". rusg.brussels. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  7. "Albion's players in World Cup qualifying action". Brighton & Hove Albion. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  8. "'Bring him back' - Brighton fans send transfer message after loanee stars on international duty - SussexLive". SussexLive. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  9. "Japan secure dramatic win over Australia to qualify for World Cup". BBC Sport. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  10. Kaoru Mitoma at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  11. Kaoru Mitoma - Statistics (in Japanese)
  12. Kaoru Mitoma at National-Football-Teams.com
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