Yūto Nagatomo

Yūto Nagatomo (長友 佑都, Nagatomo Yūto; born 12 September 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a full back for J1 League club FC Tokyo and the Japan national team.

A Meiji University graduate, Nagatomo started his professional career with FC Tokyo in 2007, quickly establishing himself as a first choice both within the team and the Japan national team. He would go on to play in Europe for over a decade, first joining Cesena in 2010, and then enjoying stints with Inter Milan (where he made over 200 appearances over 7 years), Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille. He would then return to boyhood club FC Tokyo in September 2021.

During his club career, Nagatomo has won a J.League Cup in 2009 (with Tokyo), a Coppa Italia in 2011 (with Inter), two back-to-back Turkish titles in 2018 and 2019, a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup in 2019. He also won an individual award as AFC's Asian International Player of the Year in 2013.

Having made 146 appearances, Nagatomo is Japan's second-most capped player of all time. Having won his first cap for the Samurai Blue in 2008, the full-back has represented Japan at one edition of the Olympic Games (in 2008), five consecutive World Cups (in 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), three consecutive Asian Cups (in 2011, 2015 and 2019) and one Confederations Cup (in 2013). He was part of the squad that won the Asian Cup in 2011 and the one that finished as runners-up in the same competition in 2019.

Nagatomo officially signed with FC Tokyo in 2008, while at Meiji. But he made an appearance at J.League Cup as Special Designated Youth Player in 2007. Nagatomo made 84 appearances in his four years at FC Tokyo.

In July 2010, Nagatomo was signed on loan by the newly promoted Serie A side Cesena, where he played the first half of the season as Cesena's starting left back. Before moving to Italy, Nagatomo gave a speech to 25,000 supporters just after the match involving F.C. Tokyo and Vissel Kobe on 17 July 2010. After being signed on a permanent deal, Nagatomo was then sold to Inter Milan.

Due to his impressive performances for both Cesena and Japan in the 2011 Asian Cup, he was fully signed by Cesena in January 2011. But before making any league appearances he was sent straight out on loan to Inter Milan in exchange for Davide Santon also on loan, becoming the first East Asian player to sign with Inter Milan.

Nagatomo, wearing number 55, made his debut for Nerazzurri on 6 February 2011, replacing Wesley Sneijder in the Serie A match against Roma, won by Inter 5–3. In the following game, Nagatomo came on as a late substitute against Juventus, before starting in both of the following games against Fiorentina and Cagliari. Nagatomo showed his versatility by playing right back against Sampdoria on 27 February, and finishing the whole 90 minutes. On 6 March 2011, Nagatomo scored his first goal for Inter in the 5–2 trashing of Genoa on a Kharja assist with a swivel and a finish into the roof of the net.

On 15 March, to show solidarity with his home country in light of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami which took place the previous week he paraded the Japanese flag (with the writing "You'll Never Walk Alone", a chant of his former team in Tokyo) around the pitch during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

Inter had drawn German club side Schalke 04 in the quarter-finals of Champions League. Nagatomo, along with international teammate Atsuto Uchida, who played for Schalke, became the second and third Japanese footballer to play in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions league. (Keisuke Honda was the first, playing for CSKA Moscow during 2009–10 season).

After the Serie A season was over, Inter Milan made an agreement with Cesena of making Yūto's move permanent in a cash plus player exchange deal. Nagatomo was valued at €10.95 million, however part of the fee was paid via half of the registration rights of Luca Garritano (€700,000) and Luca Caldirola (€2.5 million).

On 31 January 2018, Nagatomo joined Turkish club Galatasaray on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season. On 30 June 2018 the deal was made permanent. On 20 April 2019, Nagotomo scored his first goal for the club in a league match against Kayserispor. In his time with the Galatasaray, Nagatomo won two back-to-back Süper Lig titles in 2018 and 2019, a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup in 2019

On 31 August 2020, Nagatomo signed with Ligue 1 club Marseille on a free transfer. He made his first appearance for the club in a 1–1 league draw against Lille on 20 September 2020.

Upon the expiry of his Marseille contract, on 12 September 2021, he rejoined his boyhood club, FC Tokyo. On 18 September 2021, Nagatomo made his first appearance for the club against Yokohama FC for the time since leaving for Europe 10 years ago.

Nagatomo earned his first international cap for Japan on 24 May 2008 in a friendly against Ivory Coast. His first international goal was scored in a friendly against Syria held on 13 November 2008. Nagatomo was also a member of the Japan U-21 team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

He was called up to Japan for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting all three group games and the round of 16 match against Paraguay, where Japan were eliminated in penalties.

Nagatomo was selected as part of the Japan squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup by coach Alberto Zaccheroni. He featured in every game Japan played in the competition and helped them defeat Australia in the final, thus earning his first international honour.

He was included in Alberto Zaccheroni's 23-man Japan squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup where he featured in the three games before they were eliminated in the group stage.

Nagatomo was part of Japan's national squad to play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He started in all three group matches but Japan was eliminated in the group stage.

On 15 December 2014, Nagatomo was selected in Japan's squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He earned his 100th international cap on 10 November 2017, captaining Japan in a 3–1 friendly defeat to Brazil at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille. He became only the seventh Japanese player to reach the milestone.

Nagatomo was subsequently named in Japan's squads for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Nagatomo was selected for Japan's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. With his inclusion, he became the first Japanese player to be selected for five FIFA World Cup tournaments. He played his first match at the 2026 World Cup, appearing as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Sweden, becoming the first Japanese player and the tenth overall to achieve this milestone.

Nagatomo is married to Japanese actress Airi Taira. The couple had maintained a long-distance relationship for several years as Taira was based in Japan. Nagatomo proposed to her on the San Siro pitch in February 2016 and they registered their marriage in January 2017. They have three sons. Both of them appeared in the Captain Tsubasa Olympics special which, aired as part of the annual Jikan Terebi Nihon no Sport wa Tsuyo in November 2019.

He pursued a degree in Political Economy at the Meiji University, where he graduated in 2007.

AFC Asian International Player of the Year: 2013

AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019

AFC Opta All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020

AFC Fans' All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020