is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Urawa Red Diamonds
Club career On 1 January 2018, Mizunuma scored the game winning goal in extra-time of the final of the Emperor's Cup, helping secure Cerezo Osaka their fourth national cup trophy.
He was included in the J1 League Best XI during the 2022 season as his club Yokohama F. Marinos won their fifth J1 title and seventh Japanese title overall.
Newcastle Jets
2024-25 Season On 21 January 2025, Mizunuma moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for A-League Men side Newcastle Jets on an initial six-month deal.
2025-26 Season Mizunuma impressed during the successful 2025 Australia Cup campaign, playing all five games whilst scoring three times and assisting once. An injury ruled Kota out of the first seven rounds of the A-League, making his first appearance of the campaign off the bench in a 3–1 away win over Wellington Phoenix. He scored his first goal of the A-League campaign in his first start in a 2–1 win over Sydney FC.
On 28 May 2026, the club confirmed that Mizunuma would depart the club at the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2025–26 season.
International career In August 2007, Mizunuma was elected Japan U-17 national team for 2007 U-17 World Cup. He served as captain and played all 3 matches as right midfielder.
Mizunuma earned two caps for the Japan national team in 2022, both coming in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship which Japan won for a second time.
Personal life His father, Takashi, was also a professional footballer who earned 32 caps for Japan.
Club statistics Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 146 out of 289) + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsYokohama F. Marinos2007J. League Division 1300000——3020081000040——14020091201050——1802010400020——60Total29010110——410Tochigi S.C.2010J. League Division 213221———153201137520———395Total50741———548Sagan Tosu2012J. League Division 13351042——38720132743140——34520143241031——3652015J1 League3272241——3810Total1242073154——14627FC Tokyo2016J1 League1712020——211Cerezo Osaka2017J1 League2432272——33720182712100411034320193173062——409Total821173132411010719Yokohama F. Marinos2020J1 League253—10601033320213631073——4462022317202070—4272023331209262105152024182513181—345Total143161012262732020426Newcastle Jets FC2024–25A-League Men122————1222025–2617153———224Total29353———346Career total47458381163143143059987
Honours Cerezo Osaka Emperor's Cup: 2017 J.League Cup: 2017
Yokohama F. Marinos J1 League: 2022 Japanese Super Cup: 2023
Newcastle Jets Australia Cup: 2025 A-League Premiership: 2025–26
Japan U17 AFC U-17 Championship: 2006
Japan U23 Asian Games: 2010
Japan EAFF Championship: 2022
Individual J.League Best XI: 2022 A-League Men Goal of the Month: March 2026
References
External links
Profile at Cerezo Osaka