# Hikaru Kitagawa

Hikaru Kitagawa (北川 ひかる, Kitagawa Hikaru, born May 10, 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Damallsvenskan club BK Häcken and the Japan national team.

## Club career

Kitagawa was born in Kanazawa on May 10, 1997. After graduating from JFA Academy Fukushima, she joined Urawa Reds in 2015. She played as regular right side back from first season. However her opportunity to play decreased from 2017. In September 2018, she moved to Albirex Niigata.
On 19 August 2024, Kitagawa was announced at BK Häcken, becoming the first Japanese player to play for the club.

## International career

Kitagawa played for Japan U-17 national team at 2014 U-17 World Cup and Japan U-20 national team at 2016 U-20 World Cup. Japan won the championship in 2014 and took third place in 2016. In 2017, she was selected by the Japan national team for the 2017 Algarve Cup. On March 1, she played against Spain. She played five games for Japan in 2017.
On 14 June 2024, Kitagawa was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Kitagawa was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 21 October 2024
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 |
| Urawa Reds | 2015 | Nadeshiko League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Urawa Reds | 2016 | Nadeshiko League | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 26 | 5 |
| Urawa Reds | 2017 | Nadeshiko League | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Urawa Reds | 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Urawa Reds | Total | Total | 43 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 2 | — | — | 65 | 6 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2019 | Nadeshiko League | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 1 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2021–22 | WE League | 20 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2022–23 | WE League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Albirex Niigata | Total | Total | 76 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 0 | — | — | 93 | 4 |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2023–24 | WE League | 22 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 8 |
| BK Häcken | 2024 | Damallsvenskan | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 146 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 197 | 19 |
* ↑ Includes Empress's Cup, Svenska Cupen
* ↑ Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, WE League Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Women's Champions League

### International

    As of match played 26 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| Japan | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Japan | 2024 | 8 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 14 | 2 |
    Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kitagawa goal.
List of international goals scored by Hikaru Kitagawa :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 31 July 2024 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France | Nigeria | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| 2 | 26 October 2024 | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | South Korea | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |