# Riku Saga

Riku Saga (嵯峨 理久, Saga Riku, born 27 May 1998) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender and currently play for J1 League club, Fagiano Okayama.

## Youth career

Saga was a good player at junior high school level and was even selected for a Japan U-15 training camp. After graduating from junior high, there was interest from some J.League clubs but Saga decided to go to Aomori Yamada High School. Saga was an important player for the school, as they reached the semi-final of the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 2016 and won the competition in 2017 with a convincing 5–0 victory in the final. Saga started every game in the competition scoring three goals and scored his team's second goal in the final itself. Aomori Yamada also were champions of the Prince Takamado Cup U-18 Football League in 2016 after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth in the final, with Saga playing in every one of their games throughout the competition.
Following graduation from high school in 2017, Saga went on to Sendai University. In his third year, he was appointed captain and was part of the team that both beat JFL team Iwaki FC in the first round of the Emperor's Cup where he scored their second goal and narrowly lost in the second round to J2 League club Yokohama FC.

## Club career
### Iwaki FC

In December 2020, it was announced that Saga would be signing for JFL team Iwaki FC for the 2021 season. He made his debut for the team in March in a 2–1 league victory over Veertien Mie and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw with ReinMeer Aomori. At the end of the 2021 season, Saga had participated in all 32 games and scored 8 goals, helping Iwaki FC gain promotion to the J3 League. He was named as Rookie of the Year and was also inducted into the 2021 JFL Best XI.
In the 2022 season, Saga scored on his J.League debut in a 1–1 draw with Kagoshima United. Another excellent season ensued for him as he helped Iwaki to back-to-back promotions, playing in all 34 of their league games and scoring 5 goals. For the second season running, Saga was inducted into the league's Best XI.
In the 2023 season, Saga only made 20 appearances but did score his first J2 League goal in a 3–2 loss to Fujieda MYFC. His playing time was further reduced in the 2024 season, only making seven appearances in the first half of the season.

### Fagiano Okayama

On 7 July 2024, Saga transferred to fellow J2 League club, Fagiano Okayama mid-way through the 2024 season. On 7 December 2024, he helped his club secure promotion to the J1 League for the first time in their history, following a 2–0 victory over Vegalta Sendai in the promotion play-off final.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of the match played 22 February 2025.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | Japan | Japan | League | League | Emperor's Cup | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | J. League Cup | Total | Total |
| Sendai University | 2019 | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 1 |
| Iwaki FC | 2021 | JFL | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 8 |
| Iwaki FC | 2022 | J3 League | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 34 | 5 |
| Iwaki FC | 2023 | J2 League | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 1 |
| Iwaki FC | 2024 | J2 League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Iwaki FC | Total | Total | 92 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 94 | 14 |
| Fagiano Okayama | 2024 | J2 League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Fagiano Okayama | 2025 | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fagiano Okayama | Total | Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 99 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 14 |

## Honours
### Iwaki FC

* Japan Football League : 2021
* J3 League : 2022

### Fagiano Okayama

* J2 League Promotion play-off winner: 2024

### Individual

* JFL Rookie of the Year: 2021
* JFL Best XI: 2021
* J3 League Best XI: 2022