Sōta Kitano

Sōta Kitano (北野 颯太, Kitano Sōta; born 13 August 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg.

Sōta Kitano
北野 颯太

Kitano with Red Bull Salzburg in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Sōta Kitano[1]
Date of birth	(2004-08-13) 13 August 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Wakayama, Japan
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Red Bull Salzburg
Number	8
Youth career
2010–2013	Alma Futsal Club
2014–2016	Arterivo Yuasa
2017–2022	Cerezo Osaka
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020	Cerezo Osaka U-23	8	(0)
2022–2025	Cerezo Osaka	68	(8)
2025–	Red Bull Salzburg	3	(1)
International career‡
2019	Japan U15	2	(0)
2019	Japan U16	3	(0)
2022–2023	Japan U20	19	(6)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:24, 23 August 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 March 2023, 16:35 (UTC)

Club career

On 25 October 2020, Kitano made his league debut against Gamba Osaka U-23.^[3] In doing so, he became the youngest player to debut in an official match at 16 years, 2 months and 12 days, a record formerly held by forward Yoichiro Kakitani.^[4]

On 18 February 2022, Kitano was registered as a type 2 player for J League matches.^[5] On 25 February 2022, he signed a professional contract with the club.^[6] Kitano scored his first professional goal against Kashima Antlers on 2 March 2022, scoring in the 12th minute. At 17 years, 6 months and 17 days old, he became the club's youngest player to score in an official match, breaking Takumi Minamino's record of 18 years, 2 months and 7 days old when he scored his first professional goal.^[7] He won the 2022 New Hero Award.^[4] On 6 June 2023, Kitano scored his first J1 goal against Vissel Kobe on 10 June 2023, scoring in the 90th+3rd minute.^[8] In July 2024, he trialled for two weeks with Dutch Eredivisie club Almere City, which was a turning point for him.^[9][10]

On 9 June 2025, Kitano signed a five-year contract with Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg.^[11][12]

International career

Kitano was called up to the Japan U20s on 7 February 2023 for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.^[13]

Kitano was called up to the Japan U20s on 9 May 2023 for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.^[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 August 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cerezo Osaka U-23	2020	J3 League	8	0	—		—		—		—		8	0
Cerezo Osaka	2022	J1 League	19	0	0	0	10	3	—		—		29	3
	2023	J1 League	12	2	3	2	4	0	—		—		19	4
	2024	J1 League	18	2	1	0	3	0	—		—		22	2
	2025	J1 League	19	4	0	0	2	0	—		—		21	4
	Total		68	8	4	2	19	3	—		—		91	13
Red Bull Salzburg	2024–25	Austrian Bundesliga	—		—		—		—		1[c]	0	1	0
	2025–26	Austrian Bundesliga	3	1	2	0	—		3[d]	0	—		8	1
	Total		3	1	2	0	—		3	0	1	0	9	1
Career total			79	9	6	2	19	3	3	0	1	0	108	14

1. Includes Emperor's Cup, Austrian Cup
2. Includes J.League Cup
3. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League