# Keito Nakamura

Keito Nakamura (中村 敬斗, Nakamura Keito, born 28 July 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Reims 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 shock 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 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.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 27 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Gamba Osaka | 2018 | J1 League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 2 |
| Gamba Osaka | 2019 | J1 League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 13 | 6 |
| Gamba Osaka | Total | Total | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 4 | — | — | 38 | 8 |
| Twente (loan) | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 6 |
| Sint-Truiden (loan) | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| Juniors OÖ (loan) | 2020–21 | Austrian 2. Liga | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 |
| Juniors OÖ (loan) | 2021–22 | Austrian 2. Liga | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 |
| Juniors OÖ (loan) | Total | Total | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 5 |
| LASK | 2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 22 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 3 | 32 | 9 |
| LASK | 2022–23 | Austrian Bundesliga | 31 | 14 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 17 |
| LASK | 2023–24 | Austrian Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| LASK | Total | Total | 54 | 20 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 7 | 3 | 69 | 26 |
| Reims | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 4 |
| Reims | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 158 | 43 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 189 | 58 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

### International

    As of match played 15 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| Japan | 2024 | 9 | 4 |
| Total | Total | 13 | 8 |
    Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakamura goal.
List of international goals scored by Keito Nakamura :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 15 June 2023 | Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan | El Salvador | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 2 | 12 September 2023 | Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium | Turkey | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 3 | 12 September 2023 | Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium | Turkey | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 4 | 13 October 2023 | Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan | Canada | 3–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 1 January 2024 | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | Thailand | 2–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 14 January 2024 | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Vietnam | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 7 | 6 June 2024 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Myanmar | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 6 June 2024 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Myanmar | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours
### Individual

* Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards: Best XI (2024)