is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the Japan national team. He plays either as a left winger or a forward.
Club career
Gamba Osaka Nakamura joined Gamba Osaka from Kantō Soccer League side Mitsubishi Yowa ahead of the 2018 J1 League season. He made his senior debut at the age of 17 on 24 February 2018 in a 3–2 home defeat by Nagoya Grampus in which replaced Hwang Ui-jo in the 69th minute and 10 minutes later crossed for Shun Nagasawa to head home and make the score 2–2.
In total he played 17 J1 League games during his debut campaign and netted 1 goal, the winner in a 2–1 win over V-Varen Nagasaki on 24 November. He also scored once in 7 J.League Cup games and made one substitute appearance in the Emperor's Cup, a home defeat to Kwansei Gakuin University.
Nakamura spent a large part of the second half of the season with Gamba's Under-23 side in J3 League where he netted 4 times in 15 appearances with the goals coming against FC Tokyo U-23, Thespakusatsu Gunma and Azul Claro Numazu.
FC Juniors 00 In February 2021, Nakamura has loaned to 2. Liga (Austria) club FC Juniors OÖ.
LASK On 11 August 2021, he signed a three-year contract with Austrian club LASK.
Reims On 10 August 2023, it was announced that he would permanently transfer to Stade de Reims of France's Ligue 1. On 12 August, he made his Ligue 1 debut in the opening game against Olympique de Marseille, coming on as a substitute in the 15th minute of the second half. On 26 September, he scored his first goal in Ligue 1 in Round 6 against Lille OSC.
International career Nakamura has represented Japan at Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 level playing in both the AFC Under-16 Championship in 2016, and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in which he netted 4 times in 4 games before Japan were eliminated by England at the last-16 stage.
In March 2023, he was called up by Hajime Moriyasu for the senior national team for friendlies against Uruguay and Colombia. He made his debut against Uruguay on 24 March 2023, coming off the bench in the 89th minute. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. On 15 June, he came on as a substitute from the start of the second half against El Salvador and scored his first goal for the national team. On 12 September, he made his first start for the national team against Turkey and scored two goals.
In January 2024, he was named for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final squads alongside Reims teammate, Junya Itō.
On 15 May 2026, Nakamura was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On 14 June, Nakamura scored his first World Cup goal with a right-footed equalizer in the 57th minute, bringing Japan level at 1–1 with the Netherlands in an eventual 2–2 draw in Japan's World Cup opener.
Style of play Nakamura is a wide player known for his pace, agility, and direct attacking style. Comfortable as a wing-back or winger, he is noted for his dribbling ability, chance creation, and willingness to take on defenders.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsApps GoalsAppsGoals2018J1 League1711071——2522019J1 League701353——136Total24123124——388 (loan)2019–20Eredivisie17412———186 (loan)2020–21Belgian Pro League5100———512020–21Austrian 2. Liga9200———922021–22Austrian 2. Liga5300———53Total14500———1452021–22Austrian Bundesliga22630—73—3292022–23Austrian Bundesliga311453———36172023–24Austrian Bundesliga10————10Total542083—73—6926Reims2023–24Ligue 125400———2542024–25Ligue 1321161——2040122025–26Ligue 2291430———3214Total862991——209730Lyon2026–27Ligue 12000—11—31Career total20260209124842023477
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan20234420241042025822026101Total3211
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakamura goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Keito NakamuraNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 15 June 2023 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan 2 5–0 6–0 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup2 12 September 2023 Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium 3 2–0 4–2 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup3 3–04 13 October 2023 Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan 4 3–0 4–1 Friendly5 1 January 2024 Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan 5 2–0 5–0 Friendly6 14 January 2024 Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar 6 3–2 4–2 2023 AFC Asian Cup7 6 June 2024 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar 9 1–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification8 5–09 14 October 2025 Ajinomoto Stadium, Chōfu, Japan 20 2–2 3–2 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup10 18 November 2025 Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan 22 3–0 3–0 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup11 14 June 2026 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States 26 1–1 2–2 2026 FIFA World Cup
Honours Reims Coupe de France runner-up: 2024–25
Individual Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards: Best XI (2024)
References
External links