Nahomi Kawasumi

**Nahomi Kawasumi** (川澄 奈穂美, *Kawasumi Nahomi*; born 23 September 1985) be a Japanese footballer wey dey play either as a midfielder anaa forward give Japanese club Albirex Niigata. A full international since 2008, na she win gold at de 2011 World Cup as well as silver at de 2012 London Olympics den 2015 World Cup. During de 2011 World Cup, she score two goals—wey dey include a lob at 35 yards away against Sweden during de semifinals—wey help Japan eventually win de tournament for de first time insyd ein history.

## Early life
Na dem raise Kawasumi insyd Kanagawa Prefecture about 40 minutes south of Tokyo wer na she begin dey play soccer as a youth wey dey follow de lead of ein older sisto. Na she play give de Rinkan Lemons while insyd elementary school along plus future Japanese national team defender Megumi Kamionobe. Na Kawasumi den Kamionobe score approximately 70% of de team ein goals. Na Kawasumi attend Nippon Sport Science University.

## Club career

### INAC Kobe Leonessa
Na Kawasumi sign plus INAC Kobe Leonessa insyd 2008. Insyd 2011, na den name am de league ein most valuable player after na she captain INAC to ein first league championship title. Na de team fini de 2011 season plus a 12–3–0 record den 39 points.

During de 2013 season, na dem name Kawasumi de league ein most valuable player for a second time. Na ein twelve goals be second to ein teammate Beverly Goebel per. Na dem sanso name am to de league ein Best Eleven team for de fourth year insyd a row. Na INAC fini first insyd de league plus a 16–0–2 record wey secure dema third championship insyd three consecutive years. Na dema 48 points be 10 more dan second place team Nippon TV Beleza.

During de 2013 International Women's Club Championship, na Kawasumi score INAC ein second goal during dema 3–0 semi-final win against Chilean team, Colo-Colo Femenino. Na INAC Kobe win de tournament plus a 4–2 win over Chelsea L.F.C. insyd de final.

Insyd September 2014, na Kawasumi return to INAC Kobe Leonessa after na she fini de 2014 NWSL season for Seattle Reign FC on loan.

#### Seattle Reign FC (loan)
Insyd February 2014, Kawasumi sign plus Seattle Reign FC on loan for de 2014 National Women's Soccer League season. After she score two goals wey dey include de game-winning goal against de Boston Breakers to lift Seattle to a 3–2 win on 6 July 2014, na dem name Kawasumi NWSL Player of de Week. A few weeks later during a match against de 2013 champions Portland Thorns FC, Kawasumi score two goals wey na she serve an assist to help de Reign win 5–0. Na dem subsequently name am NWSL Player of de Week for de second time during week 16 of de season. Kawasumi fini de 2014 season, wey she score 9 goals wey na she provide 5 assists. Wey na dem select am to de NWSL Best XI for de 2014 Season.

### Seattle Reign FC
Insyd June 2016, na Kawasumi re-sign plus NWSL club Seattle Reign FC. Na Kawasumi score a brace on ein debut against de Boston Breakers just days after she re-sign, wey earn am ein NWSL Player of de Week honors. Despite ein efforts, na de Reign fini fifth insyd de 2016 NWSL season, wey dem miss de play-offs for de first time insyd three years. Na Kawasumi play insyd all ten matches give de Reign after na she re-sign, na she start eight wey she score three goals.

On 13 May 2017, na Kawasumi set a new NWSL single-game record plus four assists insyd a 6–2 win over de Washington Spirit. She continue ein good run of form insyd de rest of de 2017 season, wey she play insyd all 24 games wey she score six goals. Despite ein contribution, Seattle san fini fifth wey na dem miss de play-offs.

Dey follow de arrival of new head coach Vlatko Andonovski, na Kawasumi see ein playing time diminish wey na she fini de 2018 season scoreless. During de offseason, na Kawasumi ask for a trade to maximize ein playing time ahead of de 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup den de 2020 Summer Olympics insyd ein home country.

#### INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan)
Dey follow de conclusion of 2016 NWSL season, na Kawasumi sign plus former club INAC Kobe Leonessa on loan for de rest of ein 2016 L.League season. Na she help de club win de 2016 Empress's Cup despite she no play insyd de final.

### NJ/NY Gotham FC
On 15 January 2019, na Seattle Reign FC trade Kawasumi to fellow NWSL club Sky Blue FC (later NJ/NY Gotham FC) in exchange for American forward Shea Groom. On 8 July 2023, na Kawasumi den Gotham mutually agree to terminate ein contract.

### Albirex Niigata
On 23 July 2023, na Kawasumi return to Japan to sign plus WE League club Albirex Niigata.

## International career

Kawasumi begin dey play give de Japan national team, dem sanso know as Nadeshiko Japan, insyd 2008. She score ein first international goal against Finland at de 2011 Algarve Cup.

During de semi-final match of de 2011 World Cup against Sweden, na Kawasumi score two goals wey help Japan win 3–1 den advance to de final against de United States. Na Kawasumi dey insyd de starting line-up for de first time during de game wey na she score de equalizer insyd de 18th minute den de game-winning goal insyd de 64th. Na Japan eventually defeat de United States insyd penalty kicks to clinch de gold medal.

Na dem name Kawasumi to Japan ein roster for de 2012 London Olympics wey na she score ein first goal of de tournament during de team ein first group stage match against Canada. Japan defeat Canada 2–1. Na Japan fini second insyd dema group after dem tie both Sweden den South Africa 0–0. After dem defeat Brazil 2–0 insyd de quarter-finals, Japan face France insyd de semi-finals wey na dem win 2–1 wey dem advance go de final. Na dem defeat de team 2–1 by de United States insyd de final wey earn Japan a silver medal at de tournament. Na Kawasumi fini de tournament she play insyd every match give Japan wey na she score one goal.

Na Kawasumi remain an integral part of de Nadeshiko side, wey na she help de team fini runners-up insyd de 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Na ein cross force a last-minute own goal by English defender Laura Bassett wey na e send Japan into de final.

Dey follow Japan ein failed qualification to de 2016 Summer Olympics, na new national team head coach Asako Takakura lef off chaw veterans (wey dey include Kawasumi) in favor of younger players. However, na dem surprisingly recall Kawasumi to de Nadeshiko insyd March 2018, dey follow a two-year absence. Na ein experience help de team lift de 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Na she face plus a real chance to make Japan ein 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster wey na ein playing time diminish at Seattle Reign FC, na Kawasumi request a trade wey na she join Sky Blue FC insyd January 2019.

## Off de pitch
Kawasumi appear insyd commercials for CalorieMate, Toyota, den skin care line Acnelogy.

## Career statistics

### Club
*As of 7 July 2023*

### International
*As of 2 August 2018*

: *Scores den results list Japan ein goal tally first, score column dey indicate score after each Kawasumi goal.*

## Honours
**INAC Kobe Leonessa**

* Nadeshiko League: 2011, 2012, 2013
* Empress's Cup: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
* Nadeshiko League Cup: 2013
* International Women's Club Championship: 2013

**Seattle Reign FC**

* NWSL Shield *(regular season winners)*: 2014

**Japan**

* FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011
* FIFA Women's World Cup *Runner-Up*: 2015
* Olympic Games *Silver Medal*: 2012
* AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014, 2018
* Asian Games: 2010
* Summer Universiade: 2005

**Individual**

* Japan Women's Football League

: *MVP*: 2011, 2013
: *Top Scorers (1): 2011*
: *Best XI: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013*

* NWSL

: *Player of de Week*: Week 13, Week 16 (2014 season); Week 11 (2016 season); Week 5 (2017 season)
: *Best XI: 2014*

## References


## External links

* Nahomi Kawasumi at the National Women's Soccer League (archived)
* Nahomi Kawasumi #9 at NJ/NY Gotham FC
* Nahomi Kawasumi at the Japan Football Association
* Nahomi Kawasumi at Olympics.com
* Nahomi Kawasumi at Olympedia 
* Official website – Kawasumi's Official Blog (in Japanese)