is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Hull City and the Japan national team.

Club career Kawasaki Frontale In 2018, Morita joined Kawasaki Frontale. On 10 February, he made his professional debut as a substitute in the Japanese Super Cup against Cerezo Osaka. On 14 April, he made his first start in the league match against Vegalta Sendai. After that, he managed to secure an active role in the team, and they would go on to win the J1 League title in 2018. In 2020, he was selected in the J-League Best Eleven, along with eight other Kawasaki players, as they went on to win the J1 League title again.

Santa Clara On 8 January 2021, it was announced that Morita would sign for Portuguese club Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga. When he made his debut on 25 January, he netted his first goal for the club, scoring the winner in the 89th minute of a 2–1 victory over Rio Ave.

Sporting CP On 1 July 2022, it was announced that he would join Sporting CP on a permanent transfer. He would go on to make his debut for the club against Braga on 7 August. On 7 September, he made his Champions League debut against Eintracht Frankfurt. On 30 September, he scored his first goal for the club in a win against Gil Vicente.

Morita made his 150th appearance for the club on 4 March 2026, in a 1–0 home win against Porto in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup.

On 15 May 2026, Morita announced he would not be renewing his contract with Sporting CP for the 2026–27 season.

Hull City On 24 July 2026, Morita joined Hull City on a two-year contract with the club holding an option for a further year.

International career On 2 September 2018, Ryota Oshima and Hotaru Yamaguchi withdrew from the national team due to injury; Morita was called up to the Japan national team in their place for the first time in his first year as a professional. He made his national team debut on 11 September, coming on against Costa Rica, the first game under new coach Hajime Moriyasu.

In January 2019, he was called up to the Japan national team for the AFC Asian Cup 2019, but withdrew due to injury.

In March 2021, he was called up to the national team for the first time in just under two years; on 30 March, he scored his first goal for the national team in a 14–0 win against Mongolia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

On 1 November 2022, Morita was named in the Japan squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Career statistics Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKawasaki Frontale2018J1 League260400050103602019J1 League230204140103412020J1 League3212040——381Total811808190201082Santa Clara2020–21Primeira Liga2021000——2122021–22Primeira Liga281103061—382Total483203061—594Sporting CP2022–23Primeira Liga296102090—4162023–24Primeira Liga292400070—4022024–25Primeira Liga232202070103522025–26Primeira Liga311502011010501Total11211120603402016611Hull City2026–27Premier League000010——10Career total241152201814914033417

International

+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan2018202019102020002021922022802023802024114202510Total406

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Morita goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Hidemasa MoritaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 30 March 2021 Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan 4–0 14–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification2 28 May 2021 Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan 6–0 10–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification3 3 February 2024 Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar 1–0 1–2 2023 AFC Asian Cup4 10 September 2024 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain 3–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification5 4–06 15 November 2024 Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia 3–0 4–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours Kawasaki Frontale J1 League: 2018, 2020 Emperor's Cup: 2020 J.League Cup: 2019 Japanese Super Cup: 2019

Sporting CP Primeira Liga: 2023–24, 2024–25 Taça de Portugal: 2024–25

Individual J.League Best XI: 2020

References

External links