Koki Saito

For the Japanese show-jumping competitor, see Koki Saito (equestrian).

Koki Saito (斉藤 光毅, Saitō Kōki, born 10 August 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Sparta, on loan from Belgian club Lommel.

Koki Saito

Personal information
Full name	Koki Saito^[1]
Date of birth	(2001-08-10) 10 August 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth	Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sparta (on loan from Lommel)
Number	11
Youth career
	Inukura SC
	Yokohama FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2020	Yokohama FC	63	(9)
2021–	Lommel	29	(5)
2022–	→ Sparta (loan)	34	(8)
International career^‡
2017	Japan U16	7	(7)
2017–2018	Japan U17	8	(9)
2018	Japan U18	4	(0)
2018	Japan U19	5	(3)
2019–	Japan U20	6	(1)
Medal record Representing  Japan AFC U-19 Championship 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:53, 17 September 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:30, 4 June 2019 (UTC)

Club career

After impressive performances with the Japan U-17 team, Koki Saito debuted on 21 July 2018 in a league match against FC Gifu.^[2] On his debut, Saito even had the chance to share the field with Kazuyoshi Miura, who is 34 years his senior.^[3]

In January 2021, he joined Belgian First Division B side Lommel.^[4] In summer 2022 he was loaned to Eredivisie side Sparta.^[5] The loan was extended for the 2023–24 season.^[6]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 September 2023^[7][8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Yokohama FC	2018	J2 League	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
	2019	J2 League	29	6	2^[a]	0	0	0	0	0	—		31	6
	2020	J1 League	32	3	0	0	2^[b]	0	—		—		34	3
	Total		63	9	2	0	2	0	—		—		67	9
Lommel SK	2020–21	Challenger Pro League	9	0	1	0	–		—		—		10	0
	2021–22	Challenger Pro League	20	5	2	1	–		—		—		22	6
	Total		29	5	3	1	–		—		—		32	6
Sparta Rotterdam (loan)	2022–23	Eredivisie	30	7	2	0	–		—		0	0	32	7
	2023–24	Eredivisie	4	1	0	0	–		—		—		4	1
	Total		32	8	2	0	–		–		0	0	36	8
Career total			126	22	7	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	135	23

1. Appearances in the Emperor's Cup
2. Appearances in the J.League Cup

References

1. (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
2. . yokohamafc.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018.
3. "51歳カズが16歳斉藤と２トップ 縦パスで見せ場 – Ｊ２ : 日刊スポーツ".
4. "Welkom Koki Saito!" (in Dutch). Lommel S.K. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
5. "SPARTA HUURT JAPANS JEUGDINTERNATIONAL SAITO" (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 25 June 2022.
6. "WITTE ROOK IN ROTTERDAM-WEST: SAITO NOG EEN SEIZOEN BIJ SPARTA" (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 5 June 2023.
7. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 193 out of 289).
8. Koki Saito at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 July 2018.

External links

• Koki Saito at j-league.or.jp (in Japanese)
• at jleague.jp (archived 24 August 2018) (in Japanese)
• at Yokohama FC (archived) (in Japanese)