Nahomi Kawasumi

Nahomi Kawasumi
Kawasumi, April 2017
Personal information
Full name Nahomi Kawasumi
Date of birth (1985-09-23) 23 September 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Yamato, Kanagawa, Japan
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Albirex Niigata Ladies
Number 19
Youth career
1998–2003 Yamato Sylphid
2004–2007 Nippon Sport Science University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2016 INAC Kobe Leonessa 144 (58)
2014Seattle Reign FC (loan) 22 (9)
2016–2018 Seattle Reign FC 48 (9)
2016INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) 11 (2)
2019–2023 NJ/NY Gotham FC 66 (2)
2020INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) 9 (0)
2023– Albirex Niigata Ladies 0 (0)
International career
2008–2018 Japan 90 (20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5:27, 24 July 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:02, 23 February 2023 (UTC)

Nahomi Kawasumi (川澄 奈穂美, Kawasumi Nahomi, born 23 September 1985) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Japanese club Albirex Niigata. A full international since 2008, she won gold at the 2011 World Cup as well as silver at the 2012 London Olympics and 2015 World Cup. 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.

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. And she was selected to the NWSL Best XI for the 2014 Season.

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

Kawasumi (right) during the 2012 Summer Olympics gold medal match against the United States.

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

As of 7 July 2023
Club Season League National cup League cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
INAC Kobe Leonessa 2008 Nadeshiko League 21 3 4 2 - 25 5
2009 Nadeshiko League 21 10 3 0 - 24 10
2010 Nadeshiko League 18 8 4 2 5 2 27 12
2011 Nadeshiko League 16 12 4 2 - 20 14
2012 Nadeshiko League 18 8 4 1 5 2 27 11
2013 Nadeshiko League 18 12 4 2 10 5 32 19
2014 Nadeshiko League 9 1 2 0 - 11 1
2015 Nadeshiko League 23 4 5 1 - 28 5
Total 144 58 30 10 20 9 194 77
Seattle Reign FC (loan) 2014 NWSL 22 9 - - 22 9
Seattle Reign FC 2016 NWSL 10 3 - - 10 3
2017 NWSL 24 6 - - 24 6
2018 NWSL 14 0 - - 14 0
Total 70 18 - - 70 18
INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) 2016 Nadeshiko League 11 2 1 0 3 0 15 2
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2019 NWSL 19 0 - - 19 0
2020 NWSL - - 6 1 6 1
2021 NWSL 24 1 - 5 0 29 1
2022 NWSL 20 1 - 6 1 26 2
2023 NWSL 4 0 - 0 0 4 0
Total 66 2 - 17 2 84 4
INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) 2020 Nadeshiko League 9 0 1 0 - 10 0
Career total 301 80 32 10 42 11 373 101


International

As of 2 August 2018
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National Team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2008 1 0
2009 2 0
2010 7 0
2011 13 6
2012 16 3
2013 11 3
2014 17 6
2015 11 1
2016 4 1
2017 0 0
2018 8 0
Total 90 20
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kawasumi goal.
List of international goals scored by Nahomi Kawasumi
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 March 2011 Lagos, Portugal  Finland 2–0 5–0 2011 Algarve Cup
2 9 March 2011 Parchal, Portugal  Sweden | 1–2 1–2 2011 Algarve Cup
3 13 July 2011 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany  Sweden 1–1 3–1 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
4 3–1
5 1 September 2011 Shandong Provincial Stadium, Jinan, China  Thailand 1–0 3–0 2012 Summer Olympics qualification
6 5 September 2011 Shandong Provincial Stadium, Jinan, China  Australia 1–0 1–0 2012 Summer Olympics qualification
7 29 February 2012 Parchal, Portugal  Norway 2–1 2–1 2012 Algarve Cup
8 7 March 2012 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal  Germany 1–2 3–4 2012 Algarve Cup
9 25 July 2012 City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry, United Kingdom  Canada 1–0 2–1 2012 Summer Olympics
10 11 March 2013 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal  Denmark 2–0 2–0 2013 Algarve Cup
11 26 June 2013 Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent, England  England 1–1 1–1 Friendly Match
12 22 September 2013 Nagasaki Athletic Stadium, Isahaya, Japan  Nigeria 2–0 2–0 Friendly Match
13 26 May 2014 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam  Vietnam 1–0 4–0 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
14 4–0
15 18 September 2014 Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon, South Korea  Jordan 1–0 12–0 2014 Asian Games
16 12–0
17 22 September 2014 Incheon Munhak Stadium, Incheon, South Korea  Chinese Taipei 0–3 0–3 2014 Asian Games
18 28 October 2014 Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada  Canada 0–3 0–3 Friendly Match
19 9 March 2015 Stadium Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal  France 1–0 1–3 2015 Algarve Cup
20 7 March 2016 Kincho Stadium, Osaka, Japan  Vietnam 3–1 6–1 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Honours

INAC Kobe Leonessa

Seattle Reign FC

Japan

Individual

MVP: 2011, 2013
Top Scorers (1): 2011
Best XI: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Player of the Week: Week 13, Week 16 (2014 season); Week 11 (2016 season); Week 5 (2017 season)
Best XI: 2014

This page was last updated at 2023-10-31 10:32 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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