is a Japanese professional footballer who plays either as a midfielder or forward for WE League club Albirex Niigata. She had represented the Japan national team in the 2011 and 2015 FIFA World Cups, winning the 2011 edition of the tournament and finish as runner-up in the 2015 edition. She had also won silver at the 2012 London Olympics. During the 2011 World Cup, she scored two goals—including a lob at 35 yards away against Sweden during the semifinals—helping Japan eventually win the tournament for the first time in its history.
Early life Kawasumi was raised in Kanagawa Prefecture about 40 minutes south of Tokyo where she began playing soccer as a youth following the lead of her older sister. She played for the Rinkan Lemons while in elementary school along with future Japanese national team defender Megumi Kamionobe. Kawasumi and Kamionobe scored approximately 70% of the team's goals. Kawasumi attended Nippon Sport Science University.
Club career
INAC Kobe Leonessa Kawasumi signed with INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2008. In 2011, she was named the league's most valuable player after captaining INAC to its first league championship title. The team finished the 2011 season with a 12–3–0 record and 39 points.
During the 2013 season, Kawasumi was named the league's most valuable player for a second time. Her twelve goals were second only to her teammate Beverly Goebel. She was also named to the league's Best Eleven team for the fourth year in a row. INAC finished first in the league with a 16–0–2 record securing their third championship in three consecutive years. Their 48 points were 10 more than second place team Nippon TV Beleza.
During the 2013 International Women's Club Championship, Kawasumi scored INAC's second goal during their 3–0 semi-final win against Chilean team, Colo-Colo Femenino. INAC Kobe won the tournament with a 4–2 win over Chelsea L.F.C. in the final.
In September 2014, Kawasumi returned to INAC Kobe Leonessa after she finished the 2014 NWSL season for Seattle Reign FC on loan."Kawasumi, Reign bonded on language of soccer" The Equalizer. 30 August 2014. Retrieve 9 March 2016.
Seattle Reign FC (loan) In February 2014, Kawasumi signed with Seattle Reign FC on loan for the 2014 National Women's Soccer League season. After scoring two goals including the game-winning goal against the Boston Breakers to lift Seattle to a 3–2 win on 6 July 2014, Kawasumi was named NWSL Player of the Week. A few weeks later during a match against the 2013 champions Portland Thorns FC, Kawasumi scored two goals and served an assist to help the Reign win 5–0. She was subsequently named NWSL Player of the Week for the second time during week 16 of the season. Kawasumi finished the 2014 season, having scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists. NWSL Team History Seattle Reign FC 2014 National Women's Soccer League.Retrieved 9 March 2016. And she was selected to the NWSL Best XI for the 2014 Season.NWSL ANNOUNCES 2014 BEST XI National Women's Soccer League. 29 August 2014.Retrieved 9 March 2016.
Seattle Reign FC In June 2016, Kawasumi re-signed with NWSL club Seattle Reign FC. Kawasumi scored a brace on her debut against the Boston Breakers just days after re-signing, earning her NWSL Player of the Week honors. Despite her efforts, the Reign finished fifth in the 2016 NWSL season, missing the play-offs for the first time in three years. Kawasumi played in all ten matches for the Reign after re-signing, starting eight and scoring three goals.
On 13 May 2017, Kawasumi set a new NWSL single-game record with four assists in a 6–2 win over the Washington Spirit. She continued her good run of form in the rest of the 2017 season, playing in all 24 games and scoring six goals. Despite her contribution, Seattle again finished fifth and missed the play-offs.
Following the arrival of new head coach Vlatko Andonovski, Kawasumi saw her playing time diminish and finished the 2018 season scoreless. During the offseason, Kawasumi asked for a trade to maximize her playing time ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2020 Summer Olympics in her home country.
INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) Following the conclusion of 2016 NWSL season, Kawasumi signed with former club INAC Kobe Leonessa on loan for the rest of its 2016 L.League season. She helped the club win the 2016 Empress's Cup despite not playing in the final.
NJ/NY Gotham FC On 15 January 2019, Seattle Reign FC traded Kawasumi to fellow NWSL club Sky Blue FC (later NJ/NY Gotham FC) in exchange for American forward Shea Groom. On 8 July 2023, Kawasumi and Gotham mutually agreed to terminate her contract.
Albirex Niigata On 23 July 2023, Kawasumi returned to Japan to sign with WE League club Albirex Niigata.
International career
Senior Kawasumi began playing for the Japan national team, also known as Nadeshiko Japan, in 2008. She scored her first international goal against Finland at the 2011 Algarve Cup.
During the semi-final match of the 2011 World Cup against Sweden, Kawasumi scored two goals helping Japan win 3–1 and advance to the final against the United States. Kawasumi was in the starting line-up for the first time during the game and scored the equalizer in the 18th minute and the game-winning goal in the 64th. Japan eventually defeated the United States in penalty kicks to clinch the gold medal.
Kawasumi was named to Japan's roster for the 2012 London Olympics and scored her first goal of the tournament during the team' first group stage match against Canada. Japan defeated Canada 2–1. Japan finished second in their group after tying both Sweden and South Africa 0–0. After defeating Brazil 2–0 in the quarter-finals, Japan faced France in the semi-finals and won 2–1 advancing to the final. The team was defeated 2–1 by the United States in the final earning Japan a silver medal at the tournament. Kawasumi finished the tournament having played in every match for Japan and scoring one goal.
Kawasumi remained an integral part of the Nadeshiko side, helping the team finish runners-up in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Her cross forced a last-minute own goal by English defender Laura Bassett and sent Japan into the final.
Following Japan's failed qualification to the 2016 Summer Olympics, new national team head coach Asako Takakura left off many veterans (including Kawasumi) in favor of younger players. However, Kawasumi was surprisingly recalled to the Nadeshiko in March 2018, following a two-year absence. Her experience helped the team lift the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Faced with a real chance to make Japan's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster and with playing time diminished at Seattle Reign FC, Kawasumi requested a trade and joined Sky Blue FC in January 2019.
Off the pitch Kawasumi has appeared in commercials for CalorieMate, Toyota, and skin care line Acnelogy.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsINAC Kobe Leonessa2008Nadeshiko League21342—2552009Nadeshiko League211030—24102010Nadeshiko League188425227122011Nadeshiko League161242—20142012Nadeshiko League188415227112013Nadeshiko League18124210532192014Nadeshiko League9120—1112015Nadeshiko League23451—285Total14458301020919477Seattle Reign FC (loan)2014NWSL229——229Seattle Reign FC2016NWSL103——1032017NWSL246——2462018NWSL140——140Total701800007018INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan)2016Nadeshiko League1121030152NJ/NY Gotham FC2019NWSL190——1902020NWSL——61612021NWSL241—502912022NWSL201—612622023NWSL40—0040Total66200172844INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan)2020Nadeshiko League9010—100Albirex Niigata2023–24WE League20321602842024–25WE League22240503122025–26WE League1813060271Total60691170867Career total3618641115911459108
International Japan Football Association List of match in 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2018 at Japan Football Association
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational TeamYearAppsGoalsJapan20081020092020107020111362012163201311320141762015111201641201700201880Total9020
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kawasumi goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Nahomi KawasumiNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 4 March 2011 Lagos, Portugal 2–05–0 2011 Algarve Cup2 9 March 2011 Parchal, Portugal 1–21–22011 Algarve Cup 3 13 July 2011 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany 1–1 3–1 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup 4 3–1 5 1 September 2011 Shandong Provincial Stadium, Jinan, China 1–0 3–0 2012 Summer Olympics qualification 6 5 September 2011 Shandong Provincial Stadium, Jinan, China 1–0 1–02012 Summer Olympics qualification 7 29 February 2012 Parchal, Portugal 2–1 2–1 2012 Algarve Cup 8 7 March 2012 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal 1–23–42012 Algarve Cup 9 25 July 2012 City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry, United Kingdom 1–02–1 2012 Summer Olympics 10 11 March 2013 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal 2–0 2–0 2013 Algarve Cup 11 26 June 2013 Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent, England 1–11–1 Friendly Match 12 22 September 2013 Nagasaki Athletic Stadium, Isahaya, Japan 2–02–0 Friendly Match 13 26 May 2014 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 1–04–0 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup 14 4–0 15 18 September 2014 Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon, South Korea 1–0 12–0 2014 Asian Games 16 12–0 17 22 September 2014 Incheon Munhak Stadium, Incheon, South Korea 0–30–32014 Asian Games 18 28 October 2014 Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada 0–30–3Friendly Match 19 9 March 2015 Stadium Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal 1–01–32015 Algarve Cup 20 7 March 2016 Kincho Stadium, Osaka, Japan 3–16–1 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Honours INAC Kobe Leonessa Nadeshiko League: 2011, 2012, 2013 Empress's Cup: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 Nadeshiko League Cup: 2013 International Women's Club Championship: 2013 Seattle Reign FC NWSL Shield (regular season winners): 2014 Japan FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Runner-Up: 2015 Olympic Games Silver Medal: 2012 AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014, 2018 Asian Games: 2010 Summer Universiade: 2005 Individual Japan Women's Football League MVP: 2011, 2013 Top Scorers (1): 2011 Best XI: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
NWSL Player of the Week: Week 13, Week 16 (2014 season); Week 11 (2016 season); Week 5 (2017 season) Best XI: 2014
References
External links
Nahomi Kawasumi #9 at NJ/NY Gotham FC Nahomi Kawasumi at the Japan Football Association
– Kawasumi's Official Blog