# Moeka Minami

Moeka Minami (南 萌華, Minami Moeka, born 7 December 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A Femminile club A.S. Roma and the Japan national team.

## Early life

Minami was born in Saitama Prefecture on 7 December 1998. She attended high school in Saitama Prefectural Nanryō High School. She graduated from University of Tsukuba Physical Education College in 2021. She began her youth career when she joined the junior youth team of Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

## Club career
### Urawa Reds

She was promoted to Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds from the youth team in 2017.

### AS Roma

On 24 July 2022, Minami signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie A club Roma. She made her debut for the club on 19 August 2022 in a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win against Glasgow City. On 10 September 2022, she scored her first goal for the club in a Serie A match against AC Milan. Later in the same month, she scored again for the club in a 4–1 win against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League. On 5 November, Minami won her first silverware with Roma as they beaten Juventus in a penalty shootout in the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana. On 29 April 2023, she helped Roma clinched the 2022–23 Serie A title in a 2–1 win against Fiorentina, their first league title in club history.
On 8 February 2024, Minami penned a two-year contract extension with Roma which keeps her with the club until 30 June 2026. She won her second Serie A title back to back with Roma at the end of the 2023–24 Serie A season.

## International career
### Youth

In 2014, Minami was selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2014 U-17 World Cup. She played one game against Paraguay in the group stage. Japan went on to win the championship.
Minami was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 2018 U-20 World Cup. She played all six matches as center-back and team captain. Japan won the championship and Minami received the Bronze Ball award.

### Senior

In February 2019, Minami was selected for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on 2 March, she debuted as center back-against Brazil.
On 10 May 2019, Minami was included in the 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Minami was selected as part of the 22 players squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Japan in 2021. She started all 3 group matches for Japan.
On 7 January 2022, Minami was called up to the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad.
On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
On 14 June 2024, Minami was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Minami was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 18 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 | Others | Others | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Urawa Reds | 2017 | Nadeshiko League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Urawa Reds | 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Urawa Reds | 2019 | Nadeshiko League | 17 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| Urawa Reds | 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 17 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 1 |
| Urawa Reds | 2021–22 | WE League | 20 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 2 |
| Urawa Reds | Total | Total | 68 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 95 | 6 |
| AS Roma | 2022–23 | Serie A | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 3 |
| AS Roma | 2023–24 | Serie A | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| AS Roma | 2024–25 | Serie A | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| AS Roma | Total | Total | 55 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 5 |
| Career Total | Career Total | Career Total | 123 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 171 | 11 |
* ↑ includes Empress's Cup, Coppa Italia
* ↑ includes Nadeshiko League Cup
* ↑ includes UEFA Women's Champions League
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana

### International

    As of match played 3 August 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2019 | 10 | 0 |
| Japan | 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| Japan | 2021 | 8 | 1 |
| Japan | 2022 | 9 | 0 |
| Japan | 2023 | 16 | 3 |
| Japan | 2024 | 10 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 55 | 4 |
    Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Minami goal.
List of international goals scored by Moeka Minami :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 8 April 2021 | Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan | Paraguay | 1–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 14 July 2023 | Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan | Panama | 5–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 29 October 2023 | Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 4 | 3 December 2023 | Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil | Brazil | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |

## Honours

Urawa Reds
* Nadeshiko League: 2020
* Empress's Cup: 2021
* Empress's Cup runner-up: 2019, 2020
* Nadeshiko League Cup runner-up: 2017
AS Roma
* Serie A: 2022–23, 2023–24
* Coppa Italia: 2023–24
* Supercoppa Italiana: 2022, 2024
Japan U17
* AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2013
* FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: 2014
Japan U20
* AFC U-20 Women's Asian Championship: 2017
* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018
Japan
* EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2019
* SheBelieves Cup: 2025
Individual
* EAFF E-1 Football Championship MVP: 2019
* Nadeshiko League/WE League Best Eleven: 2019, 2020, 2021-2022

### Individual

* Serie A Women's Team of the Year: 2022–23