Rio Sakuma

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rio Sakuma

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|04|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Niigata, Japan

| height = 1.79 m

| currentclub = Geylang International

| clubnumber = 13

| position = centre-back, right-back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Yoshida SC

| youthyears2 = 2010–2015

| youthclubs2 = Albirex Niigata

| collegeyears1 = 2016–2019

| college1 = Ryutsu Keizai University

| years1 = 2018–2019

| clubs1 = Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki

| caps1 = 33

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2020

| clubs2 = Albirex Niigata (S)

| caps2 = 13

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2021

| clubs3 = Tiffy Army

| caps3 = 18

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2022–

| clubs4 = Geylang International

| caps4 = 47

| goals4 = 4

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 9:30, 15 Dec 2021 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

{{nihongo|Rio Sakuma|佐久間理央|Sakuma Rio|born 14 April 1997}} is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a centre-back or right-back for Singapore Premier League Club Geylang International FC, whom his the vice-captain.

Club career

Rio was a product of Albirex Niigata U18 team before joining and playing for Ryutsu Keizai University school team.{{cite web |author= |date=19 Dec 2019 |title=SAKUMA Rio (Ryutsu Keizai University) confirmed to join White Swans for 2020 Season. |url=https://www.albirex.com.sg/en/news/38165/ |website=albirex.com.sg}}

= Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki =

In 2018, Rio joined Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki which the club consisted largely of student players from Ryutsu Keizai University and served as a farm team of Ryutsu Keizai University.

= Albirex Niigata Singapore =

On 4 January 2020, Rio joined Albirex Niigata Singapore, a satellite team of his former club, Albirex Niigata. On 8 November 2020, he scored his first goal for the club against Hougang United in a 4-0 home win. Rio won his first ever piece of silverware en route to helping the club to win the 2020 Singapore Premier League title.{{cite web |author= |date=19 Dec 2021 |title=Reconstruction of Eagles' nest begins with the arrival of new signings |url=https://gifc.org.sg/2021/12/19/reconstruction-of-eagles-nest-begins-with-the-arrival-of-new-signings/ |website=gifc.org.sg}}

= Tiffy Army =

On 14 January 2021, Rio joined Cambodian Premier League club, Tiffy Army playing in the top tier of the Cambodia league.{{cite web |author= |date=14 Jan 2021 |title=Sakuma Rio has completed his transfer to TIFFY ARMY FC (Cambodia) |url=https://www.albirex.com.sg/en/news/41795/ |website=albirex.com.sg}}

= Geylang International =

On 27 November 2021, Geylang International announced that Rio as their third foreign signing for the 2022 season.{{cite web |author= |date=27 Nov 2021 |title=Our third foreign signing-Rio Sakuma |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=591525988799938 |website= @geylanginternationalfc}} This marked his return to Singapore after spending one season in Cambodia. He changed his jersey to no.9 for the 2023 Singapore Premier League season where on 28 February 2023, he scored a brace against Young Lions in a 4-2 home win.

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
rowspan="3"\|RKU Dragons \|2018 \|rowspan="2"\|Japan Football League \|16	2	0	0	0	0	16	2
2019 \|17	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
colspan=2 \| Total !33	2	0	0	0	0	33	2
rowspan="2"\|Albirex Niigata (S) \|2020 \|Singapore Premier League \|13	1	0	0	0	0	13	1
colspan=2 \|Total !13	1	0	0	0	0	13	1
Tiffy Army \|2021 \|Cambodian Premier League \|18	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
rowspan="4"\|Geylang International \|2022 \|rowspan="3"\|Singapore Premier League \|26	1	3	0	0	0	29	1
2023 \|22	3	0	0	0	0	22	3
2024–25 \|19	2	1	0	0	0	20	2
colspan=2 \|Total !85	6	4	0	0	0	89	6
colspan=3 \| Career total !132	8	4	0	0	0	136	8