Keita Kosugi

Keita Kosugi
小杉 啓太
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-03-18) 18 March 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth Kamakura, Japan
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Left back
Team information
Current team
Eintracht Frankfurt
Number 26
Youth career
2012–2017 Nishikamakura SC
2018–2023 Shonan Bellmare
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2026 Djurgårdens IF 42 (1)
2026– Eintracht Frankfurt 0 (0)
International career
2023 Japan U17 10 (0)
2024 Japan U19 4 (0)
2025– Japan U20 5 (0)
2025– Japan U23 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 October 2025

Keita Kosugi (小杉 啓太, Kosugi Keita; born 18 March 2006) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.

Early life

Kosugi was born on 18 March 2006 in Kamakura, Japan. As a youth player, Kosugi joined the youth academy Nishikamakura SC, of Kanagawa, Japan.[1] Subsequently, he joined the youth academy of Japanese side Shonan Bellmare.[2]

Club career

From the youth team of Shonan Bellmare, Kosugi went on trial with Djurgården in March 2024.[3] On 22 March 2024, a couple of days after his 18th birthday, Kosugi signed with Djurgården on a four-year contract after two weeks of trial.[4][5] He made his Allsvenskan debut against Elfsborg on 12 May 2024.[6][7] Kosugi received limited play time in the first half of the season, as Djurgården also had left back Samuel Dahl in the squad.[8]

With Dahl sold to Roma, Kosugi's play time increased.[9] From September to November, Kosugi started in eleven of the league matches.[7] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 tie against Kalmar FF on 6 October.[9] During his first season in Djurgården, Kosugi made 14 league appearances and scored one goal.[7] In December 2024, he scored the first goal in Djurgården's 2–1 away win over Víkingur of Iceland in the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League league phase.[10]

Djurgården started the 2025 season with the 2024–25 Svenska Cupen group stage where Kosugi, in the second match day, scored the equaling 2–2 goal against second-tier team Oddevold in the 90+5th minute, saving one point to Djurgården.[11]

On 18 December 2025, Kosugi signed a contract with German club Eintracht Frankfurt, effective 1 January 2026.[12]

International career

Kosugi was selected for Japan for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Thailand.[13] He played all matches for the team that eventually won the cup with a 3–0 win against South Korea in the final.[7] Kosugi was again selected for Japan for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup later in the year.[14] He played four matches for during the tournament in Indonesia.[7] In May 2024, Kosugi was called up for the 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament with the Japan national under-20 football team.[15][16]

Personal life

In a 2024 interview, Kosugi stated that he saw Yuto Nagatomo as football role model.[6]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 November 2025[7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Djurgårdens IF 2024 Allsvenskan 14 1 0 0 10[a] 1 24 2
2025 Allsvenskan 28 0 4 2 6[a] 1 38 3
Career total 42 1 4 2 16 2 62 5
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

  1. ^ Christophe, Victor. "Ett brev från Kamakura City: "Vi ska gå för att vinna guldet"" [A letter from Kamakura City: “We will go for winning the gold”] (in Swedish). SvenskaFans.com. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  2. ^ "米ビッククラブからもオファーも 日本代表入り目指す次世代SB小杉啓太" [Next-generation SB Keita Kosugi, who is aiming to join the Japanese national team and has received offers from big American clubs] (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Keita Kosugi provspelar med herrlaget". DIF Fotboll.
  4. ^ Asahara, Makoto (22 March 2024). "Keita Kosugi skriver kontrakt med Djurgården". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. ^ Ögren, Vendela (22 March 2024). "Djurgården värvar från Japan". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  6. ^ a b Asahara, Makoto (20 May 2024). "Keita Kosugi om segersången: "Lika bra att göra det helhjärtat"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Keita Kosugi". Soccerway. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  8. ^ Nordqvist, Casper (13 July 2024). "Keita Kosugi till FD: "Redo att ta över i Djurgården"". fotbolldirekt.se.
  9. ^ a b von Knorring, Martin. "Kosugi om vattenfirandet: "Haha, jag var törstig"". Fotbollskanalen.
  10. ^ Andréasson, Calle (12 December 2024). "Stormar fram i Europa efter drömminuterna". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  11. ^ Wagner, Michael (23 February 2025). "Kosugi räddade 2–2 med sista sparken för Djurgården". Aftonbladet.
  12. ^ "Eintracht sign Keita Kosugi". Eintracht Frankfurt. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  13. ^ "U-17 Japan National Team squad & schedule – AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 (6/17-7/2@Thailand". Japan Football Association.
  14. ^ "U-17 Japan National Team squad & schedule – FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™ (10/30~@Chiba, 11/1~@Indonesia)". Japan Football Association.
  15. ^ "Keita Kosugi kallad till japanska P19-landslaget". DIF Fotboll.
  16. ^ "Japan squad for the 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament". tournoimauricerevello.com.