In Profile: Yukinari Sugawara
From Japan to the Premier League, via the Netherlands, Yukinari Sugawara’s “biggest dream” career move comes after years of hard work and progress.
The 24-year-old full-back has had a steady rise through his career, humbly collecting a few records along the way in his unassuming journey to becoming Southampton’s latest summer signing.
After Tadanari Lee, Maya Yoshida, and Takumi Minamino, Yukinari “Yuki” Sugawara will become the fourth Japanese player to represent Saints - before being joined by youngster Rento Takaoka later in the season - as the club’s Asian cohort expands.
In fact, Sugawara’s journey is remarkably similar to Yoshida, whom he hails as a personal “legend” and inspiration on his own career.
Hailing from Toyakawa, a city in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan, Sugawara broke through at Nagoya Grampus - exactly like Yoshida - and followed his icon's path through the Dutch Eredivisie before sealing his Southampton move.
Sugawara’s debut for Nagoya Grampus came before he’d signed his professional contract, as he stepped out on the opening day of the 2018 season and became the second-youngest player to appear in the J League.
Saints' latest Japanese star. (Photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Midway through that season, the next milestone followed as he signed professional terms with Grampus and became their youngest player to do so - still two months shy of turning 18.
From there, with only 25 senior appearances to his name in Japan, interest from Europe began to circle around the then-18-year–old.
Keen to advance his career, and unphased by a huge personal and cultural shift, Sugawara joined Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar on a season-long loan in 2019.
Utilising the reserve team system in the Netherlands, the right-back played for both AZ and Jong AZ, but appearances for reserves merely supplemented an instant impact for the senior side.
Under the guise of now-Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, Sugawara’s first team debut came in July 2019 as a second half substitute in the Europa League second round qualifying.
His first goal came a month later in the league, as life in the Netherlands couldn’t have started better with 16 senior appearances and two goals rightfully earning a permanent move.
In fact, it was only eight months into his loan spell when AZ had seen enough, with a five-year contract offered to the flying full-back.
Sugawara in Europa League action. (Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Sugawara’s time at Alkmaar flourished as a permanent player, as he swiftly established himself as the club’s first choice right-back.
Starring in the Eredivisie and at all three levels of continental competitions - Champions League qualifying, Europa League and Europa Conference League - the appearances quickly racked up.
With 30, 42, 47, and 42 games in four seasons as a permanent player, Sugawara had surpassed 200 total matches in the Netherlands and earned another record, as AZ Alkmaar’s record appearance maker in European competitions.
He’d also burst onto the scene at international level, earning the highest honour of representing Japan with 13 total caps to date.
Interest from Southampton saw the next chapter arrive, with a return to the Premier League for the club providing the perfect opportunity for Sugawara to progress once more.
With motivation and positive energy in abundance, and a glowing reference from Saints icon Maya Yoshida, it could be a perfect storm on the South Coast for
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