# Tatsuhiro Sakamoto

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (坂元 達裕, Sakamoto Tatsuhiro, born 22 October 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Coventry City.

## Club career
### Early career

Starting out playing for Toyo University, Sakamoto was a specially designated player for Montedio Yamagata in the 2018 season. Despite not making an appearance during this time, Sakamoto fully joined Montedio Yamagata for the 2019 season playing in the J2 League. Sakamoto appeared in every single league game that Montedio Yamagata played in the 2019 season, scoring seven goals in the process. The team also advanced into the second round of the promotion playoffs but were beaten 1–0 by Tokushima Vortis.

### Cerezo Osaka

After a successful debut season in the J2 League, Sakamoto was signed by Cerezo Osaka for the 2020 season. He went on to appear in 33 of their 38 league games and cement himself as part of the team.

### KV Oostende

On 5 January 2022, Sakamoto joined Belgian club KV Oostende on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy. This option was triggered later in 25 May, with Oostende signing him on a contract transfer lasting to 2025.

### Coventry City

On 10 July 2023, Sakamoto signed for EFL Championship team Coventry City in a three-year deal. The transfer fee was undisclosed.
On 6 August, he made his debut for Coventry as a late substitute in a 2–1 loss at Leicester City. He scored his first goal in English football in a 3–0 win at Millwall on 25 November, becoming the first Japanese player to score for Coventry.

## International career

He made his debut for Japan national football team on 7 June 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played on 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Montedio Yamagata | 2019 | J2 League | 44 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 44 | 7 |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2020 | J1 League | 33 | 2 | – | – | 3 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 2 |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2021 | J1 League | 33 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 40 | 6 |
| Cerezo Osaka | Total | Total | 66 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 8 |
| KV Oostende (loan) | 2021−22 | Belgian First Division A | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 12 | 0 |
| KV Oostende | 2022–23 | Belgian First Division A | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 32 | 0 |
| Coventry City | 2023–24 | Championship | 29 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 7 |
| Coventry City | 2024–25 | Championship | 34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 38 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | 63 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 215 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 234 | 26 |
* ↑ Includes Emperor's Cup, Belgian Cup, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes J.League Cup, EFL Cup

### International

    As of match played 24 March 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 2 | 0 |