Roma Women: Get to know our new signing, Saki Kumagai!

Career

Kumagai began her career at Urawa Reds in 2009, clinching the league in her maiden campaign. Two years later, she headed to German outfit Frankfurt to compete in the Bundesliga, where she caught the eye of Olympique Lyonnais, who signed her in June 2013. While with the French giants, Kumagai amassed no fewer than 18 trophies across the league, domestic cups and European competitions.

She also netted the decisive penalty in the 2016 UEFA Champions League final, with her outstanding performance earning her the Player of the Match accolade.

In April 2021, she bid Lyon farewell following eight seasons in France and returned to the Bundesliga to join the Bayern Munich ranks.

National Team  

Kumagai made her international bow on 7 March 2008 at the fledgling age of 17 against Canada. By August, she was called up by the U20s, where she captained the side to World Cup glory after netting the decisive penalty in the final against the United States. 

She took part in the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2015 World Cup, both of which saw Japan finish as runners-up.

In Japan 2017, coach Asako Takakura named her the national-team captain.

Kumagai achieved Asian Cup success in 2018 and bagged her first senior international goal for Japan in a 2-0 victory over South Africa. She is set to captain her country at the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which will be her fourth taste of the showpiece tournament.

Honours:

Japanese League: Urawa Reds 2009  

French League: Lione 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 

Coupe de France: Lione 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 

UEFA Women’s Champions League: Lione 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 

Trophée des Championnes: 2019 

German League: Bayern Monaco 2022-23 

National Team: 

FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011; Runner-up: 2015 

Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 2012 

AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2018 

Asian Games: 2010 

East Asian Football Championship: 2010

Japan under 20s:

AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2009

Individual:

Asian Women's Footballer of the Year: 2019 

IFFHS Women's World Team: 2018, 2020 

IFFHS World's Woman Team of the Decade 2011 - 2020 

IFFHS AFC Woman Team of the Decade 2011 - 2020 

Attributes

Kumagai started out as a midfielder, although she has also featured at centre-back for both Bayern Munich and the national team. Particularly skilled with both feet, the Japan star is blessed with an ability to build the play combined with excellent timing and awareness. Her eye for goal is aided by her ability to get into the box at the right time and her aerial prowess. Personality and physical strength complete the profile of a player who has been at ease in the top level for a long time.

Statistics

Kumagai has over 250 appearances under her belt from her stints in Germany and France, with a total of 31 goals to boot. 

She has made 67 Women’s Champions League appearances and registered a passing accuracy figure of nearly 90% last season, including an average of five ball recoveries per match.

At international level, Saki is one of the longest-standing mainstays in the Japan squad with over a century of caps behind her.

Social Media

Follow Saki on  Instagram