Yuma Suzuki (鈴木 優磨, Suzuki Yūma, born 26 April 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker for J1 League club Kashima Antlers.[2]

Yuma Suzuki
鈴木 優磨
Suzuki with Kashima Antlers in 2018
Personal information
Full name Yuma Suzuki[1]
Date of birth (1996-04-28) 28 April 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Chōshi, Chiba, Japan
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Kashima Antlers
Number 40
Youth career
2003–2014 Kashima Antlers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Kashima Antlers 96 (27)
2015J.League U-22 (loan) 9 (3)
2019–2022 Sint-Truiden 67 (26)
2022– Kashima Antlers 80 (28)
Medal record
Kashima Antlers
Winner AFC Champions League 2018
Winner J1 League 2016
Runner-up J1 League 2017
Winner J.League Cup 2015
Winner Emperor's Cup 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:24, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Kashima Antlers

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Suzuki joined the Kashima Antlers youth system at the age of 7 in 2003.

After scoring two goals and leading Kashima Antlers to their first ever AFC Champions League title in 2018, Suzuki was named MVP of the competition.[3]

He was chosen as one of the candidates for 2018 Asian Footballer of the Year.[4]

Sint-Truiden

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On 15 July 2019, Suzuki joined Belgian First Division A club Sint-Truiden.[5] Suzuki scored his first goal for his new club on 21 September 2019, opening the scoring in his side's 3–0 victory over Sporting Charleroi.[6]

On 30 November 2019, Suzuki headed in the winning goal as Sint-Truiden upset defending league champions Genk, to move up to 10th in the league table.[7]

Kashima Antlers

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On 3 January 2022, his departure from Sint-Truiden was announced. He returned to his former club Kashima Antlers.[8] This marked his 6th season in Japan's top flight league (J1 League), where he played from the start of his career in 2015, until transferring overseas in 2019. On 30 January 2024, Suzuki was injured and would spend 5 weeks out.[9] On 4 December 2023, he was nominated as one of 34 players to win the 2023 J.League MVP Award.[10] On 11 June 2024, he won the Meiji Yasuda J1 KONAMI Monthly MVP award for May.[11]

International career

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His debut call-up to the Japan national team was on 7 November 2018 for the Kirin Cup,[12] but he was excluded because of suffering an ankle sprain in his club's AFC Champions League match.[13]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 3 December 2023[14][15][16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club performance League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Other Total
Club Season League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kashima Antlers 2015 J1 League 7 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 10 2
2016 J1 League 31 8 6 2 6 0 0 0 5[c] 1 48 11
2017 J1 League 26 6 4 2 2 2 8 4 1[d] 1 41 15
2018 J1 League 32 11 4 4 2 0 14 2 52 17
Total 96 27 16 8 11 2 22 6 6 2 151 45
J.League U-22 (loan) 2015 J3 League 9 3 0 0 9 3
Sint-Truiden 2019–20 Belgian First Division A 24 7 1 0 25 7
2020–21 Belgian First Division A 32 17 1 0 33 17
2021–22 Belgian First Division A 11 2 0 0 11 2
Total 67 26 2 0 69 26
Kashima Antlers 2022 J1 League 32 7 4 2 5 2 41 11
2023 J1 League 33 14 1 0 7 0 41 14
Total 65 21 5 2 12 2 0 0 0 0 82 25
Career total 237 77 23 10 23 4 22 6 6 2 311 99
  1. ^ Appearances in the Emperor's Cup and Belgian Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in the J.League Cup
  3. ^ 3 appearances, 1 goal in the FIFA Club World Cup, 1 appearance in the J.League Championship, 1 appearance in the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship
  4. ^ Appearance in the Japanese Super Cup

Honours

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Club

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Kashima Antlers

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: List of Players: Kashima Antlers" (PDF). FIFA. 14 December 2016. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017.
  2. ^ "鈴木 優磨:鹿島アントラーズ:Jリーグ.jp". jleague.jp. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Yuma Suzuki of Kashima named 2018 MVP". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. ^ "AWARD NOMINEES LIST 2018". www.the-afc.com.
  5. ^ "STVV and Kashima Antlers Agree on the Transfer of Yuma Suzuki". STVV. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. ^ "SPORTING CHARLEROI VS. SINT-TRUIDEN 0 - 3". Soccerway. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Yuma Suzuki lifts Sint-Truiden over Genk in Belgian top flight". Japan Times. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. ^ "鈴木選手の加入について". www.antlers.co.jp (in Japanese).
  9. ^ "鈴木 優磨選手の手術について". www.antlers.co.jp (in Japanese).
  10. ^ "佐野 海舟選手と鈴木 優磨選手が2023Jリーグ優秀選手賞に選出". www.antlers.co.jp (in Japanese).
  11. ^ "鈴木 優磨選手 5月度の明治安田J1 KONAMI月間MVP受賞のお知らせ". www.antlers.co.jp (in Japanese).
  12. ^ "日本代表メンバー発表! "NMD"が順当に選出、初招集は山中亮輔と鈴木優磨". フットボールチャンネル (in Japanese). 7 November 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Comeback from leukemia continues for Albirex's Hayakawa". The Japan Times Online. 14 November 2018.
  14. ^ Yuma Suzuki at Soccerway
  15. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 47 out of 289)
  16. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Yuma Suzuki Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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