| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (2006-10-16)16 October 2006 (age 19) | ||
| Place of birth | Nishitokyo,Tokyo, Japan[1] | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Fagiano Okayama (on loan fromFC Tokyo) | ||
| Number | 39 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013 | Hekizan SC | ||
| 2014–2018 | JACPA Tokyo | ||
| 2016–2023 | FC Tokyo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | FC Tokyo | 3 | (0) |
| 2025– | →Fagiano Okayama (loan) | 24 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Japan U16 | 5 | (1) |
| 2023 | Japan U17 | 10 | (3) |
| 2023 | Japan U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2024 | Japan U19 | 4 | (1) |
| 2025– | Japan U20 | 6 | (2) |
| 2024– | Japan U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | Japan | 5 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 November 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 July 2025 | |||
Ryūnosuke Satō (佐藤 龍之介,Satō Ryūnosuke; born 16 October 2006) is a Japanesefootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder forFagiano Okayama, on loan fromFC Tokyo, and theJapan national team.
Born inNishitokyo,Tokyo, Satō began his career with Hekizan SC in 2013, before moving to JACPA Tokyo, graduating from the programme in 2018.[2][3] Enrolled in the academy of professional sideFC Tokyo since 2016, where he played at their facility inKodaira, he was moved to theirMusashi team in 2019.[2]
Having watched him play at under-13 level, FC Tokyo's then-academy directorTakashi Okuhara stated that, while he showed good technique, he was physically weak and did not show enough determination.[4] At national team training sessions while still an under-13 player, he set himself the goal of reaching the2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, having been pushed by coachesYoshiro Moriyama andNozomi Hiroyama.[4]
He made his professional debut for FC Tokyo on 8 March 2023, starting in their 1–0J.League Cup loss toCerezo Osaka.[5] On 26 August 2023 Satō signed his first professional contract with FC Tokyo.[2][6] Having only featured in three league games in the2024 season, Satō expressed his disappointment in not featuring more often, stating it had affected him mentally.[7]
In January 2025, Satō joined fellow-J1 League sideFagiano Okayama on a year-long loan deal.[8] He scored for Fagiano Okayama in the inaugural "China Derby" against fellow-Chūgoku region-based sideSanfrecce Hiroshima on 12 April 2025, the only goal in Fagiano Okayama's 1–0 win.[9][10] This goal was his second for the club, having already scored against Cerezo Osaka the week before, and he followed it with a goal in Fagiano Okayama's next match againstKashima Antlers.[11] This run of goalscoring form led him to being named April's J1 League Young Player of the Month.[12]
Having returned early from the2024 Maurice Revello Tournament after withdrawing from the squad,[13] Satō was called up to the Japan under-23 side for afriendly againstFrance on 17 July 2024.[14] Just one week later he featured for Japan's under-19 side, scoring two goals against theRyukoku University in a 4–2 training match win.[14]
Called up to the under-20 side for the2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup, Satō featured in four of Japan's five games, scoring in their 3–0 win againstThailand.[15] He later expressed his disappointment in not being able to help Japan win the tournament, after they were knocked out in the semi-final byAustralia.[16]
Primarily amidfielder, capable of playing in both attacking and defensive roles, Satō was utilised as aright-winger and awing-back during his time with Fagiano Okayama.[9] He is known for his stamina, able to cover vast distances in games.[9][17]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FC Tokyo | 2023 | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Fagiano Okayama (loan) | 2025 | J1 League | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
| Career total | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | ||
Japan