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Fūka Nagano
長野 風花

Nagano in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Fuka Nagano
Date of birth	(1999-03-09) 9 March 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Liverpool
Number	8
Youth career
2013–2014	Urawa Reds
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2017	Urawa Reds	23	(0)
2018	Hyundai Steel Red Angels	21	(1)
2019–2020	Chifure AS Elfen Saitama	34	(1)
2021–2022	Mynavi Sendai	20	(0)
2022	North Carolina Courage	11	(2)
2023–	Liverpool	40	(0)
International career
2013–2016	Japan U17	31	(5)
2017–2018	Japan U20	20	(2)
2018–	Japan	45	(1)
Medal record Representing  Japan FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2018 France AFC U-19 Women's Championship 2017 China FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2014 Costa Rica 2016 Jordan AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2015 China
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:52, 9 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:52, 9 December 2024 (UTC)

Fūka Nagano (長野 風花, Nagano Fūka, born 9 March 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Liverpool and the Japan national team.

Nagano begun her senior career with Urawa Reds in 2014. She joined WK league club Hyundai Steel Red Angels in 2018. She then returned to Japan and played for the Division 2 side Chifure AS Elfen Saitama before joining Mynavi Sendai for the inaugural WE League season. In 2022, she went overseas to join NWSL club North Carolina Courage during the midseason. At the end of the season, she left the club to join Liverpool in the Women's Super League.

Nagano has represented Japan at every youth level and has won both the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup with her country. In 2017, she was named Asian Young Footballer of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards. In 2018, she made her senior international debut for Japan in a friendly match. She has since represented Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup, the 2024 Paris Olympics, AFC Women's Asian Cup, and the EAFF E-1 Football Championship .

Club career

Urawa Reds

In 2014, Nagano played for Urawa Reds in Japan's top-division Nadeshiko League and helped the team win a league championship.

Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

On 18 March 2018, Nagano signed a one-year contract with Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. On 23 April, she made her debut in a 0–0 draw with Gyeongju KHNP. On 1 June, she scored her first goal in a 7–1 home victory against Changnyeong. She won the WK league in her lone season with the team.

Chifure AS Elfen Saitama

In January 2019, Nagano left South Korea and returned to her native Japan to play for Division 2 club Chifure AS Elfen Saitama. She stated that her motivation to join was because of her great respect for the coach of the team, Hiroshi Yoshida.

Mynavi Sendai

In January 2021, Nagano joined Mynavi Sendai.

North Carolina Courage

In July 2022, Nagano confirmed she would be joining the North Carolina Courage of the NWSL. She scored her first goal for the Courage on 20 August in a 4–0 victory over Chicago Red Stars.

Liverpool

In January 2023, Nagano joined Women's Super League side Liverpool. She was due to complete her debut on 22 January 2023 in a league match against Chelsea before the match was abandoned after 6 minutes of play. She made her official competitive debut in a 1–0 loss against West Ham United in the FA WSL Cup quarterfinals on 25 January 2023. She quickly established herself as a key part of the team as she started in all of Liverpool's remaining matches in the 2022–23 season.

Nagano continued to be an integral part of the Liverpool line-up in the Women's Super League during the 2023–24 season as she started in 21 of 22 matches in the league. She helped Liverpool finished 4th in the league, their highest position in the league since their league triumph in 2014.

International career

Youth

In 2016, Nagano competed at the All Japan Youth (U-15) Women's Championship. She was part of the under-16 team that won the 2013 AFC U-16 Women's Championship in China and of the under-17 team that won the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica. She captained Japan to the final of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan, where they were defeated by North Korea on penalty kicks, and won the Golden Ball award as the tournament's top scorer.

In June 2018, Nagano was called up to the senior team for the first time for a friendly match against New Zealand.

In August 2018, Nagano was part of Japan's victorious team in the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in France, turning in a player of the match performance in the semi-final, and scoring a goal in the final in a 3–1 win over Spain.

Senior

On 11 November 2018, Nagano debuted for senior team against Norway. She established herself as a regular in the Japan national team in 2022, and she was part of the team that won the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in Japan.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 December 2024

1. Includes the Empress's Cup, Women's FA Cup
2. Includes the Nadeshiko League Cup, FA Women's League Cup

International

As of match played 26 October 2024

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

List of international goals scored by Fuka Nagano

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	19 July 2022	Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, Japan	South Korea	2–1	2–1	2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship

Honours

Urawa Red Diamonds

• Nadeshiko League: 2014
• Empress's Cup runner-up: 2014
• Nadeshiko League Cup runner-up: 2017

Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

• WK League: 2018

Japan U17

• AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2013
• FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: 2014

Japan U20

• AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2017
• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018

Japan

• EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2022

Individual

• FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2016
• Asian Young Footballer of the Year: 2016

References

1. "FIFA U-20 Women's WC France 2018 – List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 24 August 2018. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
2. ^ "長野風花 移籍のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies. 18 March 2018. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
3. ^ "マイナビ仙台レディース 長野風花選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
4. ^ "Courage Sign Japanese Midfielder Fuka Nagano". Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
5. ^ "Liverpool FC Women complete signing of Fuka Nagano". Liverpool FC. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
6. "Fuka Nagano receives AFC Youth Player of the Year award | AFC". www.the-afc.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
7. "Summary – Nadeshiko League 1 – Japan – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Women Soccerway". us.women.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
8. "［なでしこリーグ］浦和レッズレディース、引き分けも優勝をほぼ手中に収める｜みんな＠サッカー". minasaka.net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
9. "アジア年間最優秀ユース選手に輝いた長野風花選手。未来へ羽ばたく次世代のヒロインが世界の舞台を経験して感じたこととは？ | ジュニアサッカーを応援しよう！". jr-soccer.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 December 2017.
10. "Match Report: Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 0–0 Gyeongju KHNP" (in Korean). WK League. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
11. "Match Report: Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 7–1 Changnyeong" (in Korean). WK League. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
12. "North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars - 21 August 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
13. "Chelsea game with Liverpool off after six minutes". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
14. "Brynjarsdottir strike sends West Ham into last four". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
15. "Nagano: I'll give my all for Japan at the Olympics". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
16. Durkan, Joanna (19 May 2024). "LFC Women clinch 4th spot in impressive season - above Man United!". This Is Anfield. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
17. "MINAMI Moeka ＆ NAGANO Fuka: Hope they can take on challenges while enjoying – the 21st All Japan Youth (U-15) Women's Championship". Japan Football Association. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
18. "Japan squad for Women's U-17 World Cup announced". Japan Football Association. 26 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
19. "Fuka Nagano, la veterana que busca el bicampeonato con Japón" (in Spanish). Telemundo Deportes. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
20. "Nagano wants revenge as Japan and their captain pursue history together". Association Internationale de le Presse Sportive. 21 October 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
21. "Emotional Nagano talks pain, prizes and penalties". FIFA.com. FIFA. 22 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
22. "Nagano and Navarro Jordan 2016's golden girls | New Zealand Football". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
23. "Nagano: "Jamás soñé con el Balón de Oro"". FIFA.com (in European Spanish). FIFA. 22 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
24. "Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) squad, schedule - New Zealand tour (6/4-11)". Japan Football Association. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
25. Japan Football Association Archived 11 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
26. "Japan secure men's and women's double at 2022 EAFF E-1 finals". 29 July 2022. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
27. "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
28. "Japan- F. Nagano - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
29. "Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association". Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
30. "Fuka Nagano player profile". FIFA. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
31. "AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women) 2016: Fuka Nagano". Asian Football Confederation. 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.

External links

• Fūka Nagano – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Fūka Nagano at Soccerway
• Japan Football Association
• Fuka Nagano at Urawa Red Diamonds
• Fuka Nagano at Mynavi Sendai Ladies
• Fuka Nagano at Liverpool FC Women
• Fūka Nagano at Olympics.com
• Fūka Nagano at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
• Fūka Nagano on Instagram

Japan squads

v t e Japan squad – 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup semi-finalists 1 S. Ikeda 2 Shimizu 3 Minami 4 Kumagai (c) 5 Miyake 6 Miyagawa 7 Sumida 8 Naomoto 9 Sugasawa 10 Iwabuchi 11 Mi. Tanaka 12 Norimatsu 13 Endō 14 Hasegawa 15 Nagano 16 Hayashi 17 Narumiya 18 Yamashita 19 Ueki 20 Takahashi 21 Mo. Tanaka 22 Takarada 23 Miyazawa Coach: F. Ikeda v t e Japan squad – 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 1 Yamashita 2 Shimizu 3 Minami 4 Kumagai (c) 5 Miyake 6 Sugita 7 Miyazawa 8 Naomoto 9 Ueki 10 Nagano 11 Mi. Tanaka 12 Takahashi 13 Endō 14 Hasegawa 15 Fujino 16 Hayashi 17 Seike 18 Mo. Tanaka 19 Moriya 20 Hamano 21 Hirao 22 Chiba 23 Ishikawa Coach: Ikeda v t e Japan women's football squad – 2024 Summer Olympics 1 Yamashita 2 Shimizu 3 Minami 4 Kumagai (c) 5 Takahashi 6 Koga 7 Miyazawa 8 Seike 9 Ueki 10 Nagano 11 Tanaka 12 Tanikawa 13 Kitagawa 14 Hasegawa 15 Fujino 16 Hayashi 17 Hamano 18 Hirao 19 Chiba 20 Moriya 21 Ishikawa 22 Ohba Coach: Ikeda

• 1999 births
• Living people
• People from Edogawa, Tokyo
• University of Tsukuba alumni
• Association football people from Tokyo
• Japanese women's footballers
• Women's association football midfielders
• Japan women's international footballers
• Nadeshiko League players
• Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies players
• Chifure AS Elfen Saitama players
• Mynavi Sendai Ladies players
• Asian Young Footballer of the Year winners
• Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC players
• North Carolina Courage players
• Liverpool F.C. Women players
• WK League players
• Japanese expatriate women's footballers
• Expatriate women's footballers in South Korea
• Japanese expatriate sportspeople in South Korea
• WE League players
• National Women's Soccer League players
• Japanese expatriate sportspeople in England
• 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players
• Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
• Olympic footballers for Japan
• 21st-century Japanese sportswomen