Kyoga Nakamura
{{short description|Singaporean footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Singapore English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kyoga Nakamura
| image = Kyoga Nakamura.jpg
| caption = Nakamura with Tampines Rovers in 2024
| fullname =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|4|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
| height = 1.65m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Bangkok United
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs1 = JEF United Chiba
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = JEF United Chiba
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → YSCC Yokohama (loan)
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → FC Ryukyu (loan)
| caps3 = 3
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2017
| clubs4 = → YSCC Yokohama (loan)
| caps4 = 22
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2018
| clubs5 = YSCC Yokohama
| caps5 = 4
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019
| clubs6 = Albirex Niigata (S)
| caps6 = 26
| goals6 = 7
| years7 = 2020–2025
| clubs7 = Tampines Rovers
| caps7 = 118
| goals7 = 13
| years8 = 2025–
| clubs8 = Bangkok United
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Japan U17
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = Japan U18
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2024–
| nationalteam3 = Singapore
| nationalcaps3 = 11
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| club-update = 31 May 2025
| nationalteam-update = 10 June 2025
}}
{{nihongo|Kyoga Nakamura|仲村 京雅|Nakamura Kyōga|born 25 April 1996}} is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Thai League 1 club Bangkok United. Born in Japan, where he was a youth international, he moved to Singapore in 2019 and has represented Singapore at international level since 2024.
Club career
= Early career =
Nakamura was part of JEF United Chiba academy product where he got promoted to the senior squad in 2015.{{Cite web |title='Delighted I can truly call Singapore my home': Japan-born Kyoga Nakamura granted citizenship |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-football-japan-kyoga-nakamura-citizenship-tampines-rovers-4699996 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=CNA |language=en}}
== YSCC Yokohama (loan) ==
However, in July 2015, Nakamura was loaned out to YSCC Yokohama ahead of the 2015 J3 League season. He made his professional career debut in a 2–1 loss to FC Ryukyu on 2 August. Nakamura returned to JEF United Chiba on 31 January 2016 after his loan move contract expired.
== FC Ryukyu (loan) ==
On 14 September 2016, Nakamura joined J3 League club FC Ryukyu on a loan deal until 31 January 2017. He made his debut for the club on 25 September against SC Sagamihara where he assisted Yuta Togashi to equalise the score at 1–1. FC Ryukyu went on to win 3–1 at the end.
= Second stint at YSCC Yokohama =
In February 2017, Nakamura rejoined YSCC Yokohama for his second stint on loan from JEF United Chiba. On 30 April, he scored his first professional career goal against Giravanz Kitakyushu in a 3–2 loss. At the end of the season, YSCC Yokohama decided to make the move permanent and signed Kyoga on a free transfer.
= Albirex Niigata Singapore =
In February 2019, Nakamura moved to Singapore to signed with Albirex Niigata (S) where he was also chosen as the club captain for the 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.albirex.com.sg/en/archives/33284/|title=Kyoga NAKAMURA (Y.S.C.C.) joins White Swans for 2019 season {{!}} Albirex Niigata Singapore アルビレックス新潟シンガポール 公式サイト|language=ja|access-date=2019-12-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-albirex-niigata-still-aim-to-win-trophies-despite-squad-overhaul|title=Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite squad overhaul|last=Abdul Aziz|first=Sazali|date=2019-03-01|website=The Straits Times|access-date=2019-12-23}}
Nakamura scored seven and assisted eight times during the season, including a 35-metre lob in a 3–3 draw in July against Home United, earning him a nomination for the 'Goal of the Year' accolade. He also scored back-to-back braces against Home United and Geylang International on 27 April and 5 May respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/albirex-unfazed-despite-losing-skipper-kyoga-nakamura-tampines|title=Albirex unfazed despite losing skipper Kyoga Nakamura to Tampines|last=Descalsota|first=Marielle|date=2019-12-18|website=The New Paper|language=en|access-date=2019-12-23}}
Nakamura was nominated for the 'Young Player of the Year' award but lost it to Hami Syahin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/varankou-shahdan-and-faris-in-fas-top-player-shortlist|title=Varankou, Shahdan and Faris in FAS top player shortlist|last=Abdul Aziz|first=Sazali|date=2019-10-25|website=The Straits Times|access-date=2019-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026143259/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/varankou-shahdan-and-faris-in-fas-top-player-shortlist|archive-date=2019-10-26|url-status=dead}} Albirex Niigata (S) finished 4th in the 2019 SPL.
= Tampines Rovers =
Nakamura was then snapped up by Singaporean club Tampines Rovers in January 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/sg/2019/12/22/1007705-spl-pre-season-review-tampines-rovers.html|title=SPL pre-season review: Tampines Rovers|last=VAVEL.com|date=2019-12-22|website=VAVEL|language=en-sg|access-date=2019-12-23}} He made his debut for the club during the 2020 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs in a 5–3 lost against Indonesian club Bali United which resulted in Tampines qualifying to the 2020 AFC Cup group stage instead. Nakamura went on to play in the tournament against Indonesian club, PSM Makassar, Philippines club Kaya-Iloilo and Myanmar club Shan United before the tournament was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On 22 February, Nakamura won his first silverware after helping Tampines win the 2020 Singapore Community Shield in a 3–0 win over Hougang United.
On 2 May 2021, Nakamura scored a brace against Young Lions in a 7–0 thrashing league win. Nakamura was also involved in the club all six fixtures during the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage matches against Japan's Gamba Osaka, Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Thailand's Chiangrai United. In January 2022, Nakamura was handed a new five-year deal by the Stags in an unprecedented move in Singaporean football, making it the longest contract extension in Singaporean league history. Kyoga had turned down offers from clubs in Japan, Indonesia and Thailand before reaffirming his commitment to the club.{{Cite web |last=Ganesan |first=Deepanraj |date=2022-01-18 |title=Football: Tampines midfielder Nakamura signs new 5-year deal, eyes S'pore citizenship |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-tampines-midfielder-nakamura-signs-new-5-year-deal-eyes-spore-citizenship |access-date=2022-06-15 }}
=Bangkok United=
On 29 June 2025, it was announced that Kyoga would be joining Thai League 1 club Bangkok United on a one-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/singapore-footballer-kyoga-nakamura-leaves-spl-for-thailand-seeking-to-improve-himself|title=Singapore footballer Kyoga Nakamura leaves SPL for Thailand, seeking to improve himself|last=Ganesan|first=Deepanraj|date=2025-06-29|website=The Straits Times|access-date=2025-06-29}}
International career
In October 2013, Nakamura was selected for the Japan U17 national team for the 2013 U-17 World Cup in UAE.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/midfield-maestros-in-the-spotlight|title=Midfield maestros in the spotlight|last=Abdul Aziz|first=Sazali|date=2019-05-24|website=The Straits Times|access-date=2019-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525060343/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/midfield-maestros-in-the-spotlight|archive-date=2019-05-25|url-status=dead}} He played three matches including the Round of 16 match against Sweden U17.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-four-albirex-niigata-players-to-watch-in-the-2019-singapore-premier-league|title=Football: Four Albirex Niigata players to watch in the 2019 Singapore Premier League|last=Abdul Aziz|first=Sazali|date=2019-03-01|website=The Straits Times|access-date=2019-12-23}}
On 2 September 2024, Nakamura was called up to the Singapore national team centralised training camp for a familiarisation stint prior to gaining Singapore citizenship.{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Gabriel |title=Cardiff's Perry Ng joins Singapore training for first time |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/41092434/cardiff-perry-ng-joins-singapore-training-first |access-date=2 September 2024 |work=ESPN |date=2 September 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Mohan |first1=Matthew |title=Cardiff City footballer Perry Ng in Singapore for 'familiarisation stint' with Lions |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/perry-ng-singapore-familiarisation-stint-lions-cardiff-city-efl-championship-4581521 |access-date=2 September 2024 |work=Channel News Asia |date=2 September 2024}} On 6 November 2024, he received his first official call up as a Singapore citizen.{{Cite news |last=Ganesan |first=Deepanraj |date=6 November 2024 |title=Kyoga Nakamura named in Singapore football squad for friendlies; Fandi brothers are out |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/kyoga-nakamura-named-in-singapore-football-squad-for-friendlies-fandi-brothers-are-out |access-date=7 November 2024 |work=The Straits Times}} He made his debut for Singapore in their 3–2 international friendly victory against Myanmar on 15 November 2024, also earning a Man of the Match award for his performance.{{Cite web |title=Singapore show mettle in spirited 3-2 comeback win over Myanmar - Football Association of Singapore |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/singapore-show-mettle-in-spirited-3-2-comeback-win-over-myanmar/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.fas.org.sg |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Gabriel |title=Kyoga Nakamura hungry for more after winning first cap for Singapore |url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/story/_/id/42401306/kyoga-nakamura-hungry-more-winning-first-cap-singapore |access-date=23 November 2024 |work=ESPN |date=15 November 2024}}
Nakamura scored his first international goal on 14 December 2024 against East Timor at the Hàng Đẫy Stadium during the 2024 ASEAN Championship.{{cite web | url=https://aseanutdfc.com/asean-mitsubishi-electric-cup/match/2bk1h80lz82jr9waykce4esyc/details | title=Mitsubishi Electric Cup }}
Personal life
Nakamura was born in Funabashi of Chiba Prefecture in Japan. He moved to Singapore in 2019, becoming a permanent resident (PR) in 2024, and subsequently a citizen later that year. As both Japan and Singapore do not permit multiple citizenships in adulthood, Nakamura had relinquished his Japanese citizenship in the process.
Club statistics
{{Update|section|date=November 2024}}
=Club=
{{updated|31 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Emperor Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| JEF United Chiba
|2015 | J2 League
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="2"| YSCC Yokohama
|2015 | J3 League
|14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total
!14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| rowspan="2"| JEF United Chiba
|2016 | J2 League
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="2"| FC Ryukyu
|2016 | J3 League
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total
!3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"| YSCC Yokohama
|2017 | J3 League
|22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| 2018 | J3 League
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total
!26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Singapore Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|AFC Cup !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Albirex Niigata (S)
|2019 | Singapore Premier League
|23 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 |
| colspan=2|Total
!23 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 | |
| rowspan="6"| Tampines Rovers
|2020 |rowspan="5"| Singapore Premier League |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2021
|21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 3 | |
| 2022
|28 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 7 | |
| 2023
|23 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2024–25
|32 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 45 | 3 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!118 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 158 | 16 | |
| colspan=3 | Career total
!176 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 214 | 23 |
;Notes
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" |Singapore
|2024 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2025
|4 |0 | |||
| colspan="2" |Total||11||2 |
== Japan U17 international caps==
| class="wikitable"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition | |||||
| align=center| 1 | 21 October 2013 | Sharjah Stadium, UAE | {{fbu|17|VEN}} | align=center| 2–1 (won) | rowspan="3" | 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup |
| align=center| 2 | 24 October 2013 | Sharjah Stadium, UAE | {{fbu|17|TUN}} | align=center| 2–1 (won) | |
| align=center| 3 | 28 October 2013 | Sharjah Stadium, UAE | {{fbu|17|SWE}} | align=center| 1–2 (lost) |
=International goals=
| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 14 December 2024 | Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | {{fb|TLS}} | {{center|1–0}} | {{center|3–0}} | rowspan=2| 2024 ASEAN Championship |
| 2. | 29 December 2024 | Việt Trì Stadium, Việt Trì, Vietnam | {{fb|VIE}} | {{center|1–2}} | {{center|1–3}} |
Honours
= Club =
Tampines Rovers
= Individual =
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FIFA player|371888}}
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{J.League player|12101}}
- [http://jefunited.co.jp/top/player/2016/30.html Profile at JEF United Chiba]
- [http://www.yscc1986.net/club/players/kyoga_nakamura Profile at YSCC Yokohama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228042516/http://www.yscc1986.net/club/players/kyoga_nakamura |date=28 December 2015 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakamura, Kyoga}}
Category:Association football people from Chiba Prefecture
Category:Japan men's youth international footballers
Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen
Category:Singaporean men's footballers
Category:21st-century Singaporean sportsmen
Category:Singapore men's international footballers
Category:JEF United Chiba players
Category:YSCC Yokohama players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Tampines Rovers FC players
Category:Naturalised citizens of Singapore
Category:Naturalised association football players