Ryunosuke Sato, Valencia sign Japan’s standout teenage playmaker | OneFootball

Valencia have signed Ryunosuke Sato, a 19-year-old attacking midfielder and one of Japan’s standout young talents.

According to AS, he can operate in any of the three roles behind the striker. He often starts wide, cutting in on his opposite foot, while in Japan’s youth sides he was used as a central playmaker, wearing the number 10.

He excels between the lines, quickening attacks with direct dribbles, and is noted for his final pass and timing in the box. Right footed, he is comfortable on either flank.

A product of FC Tokyo’s academy, he made his senior debut in early 2024. After a loan at Fagiano Okayama, he has broken through back at his parent club this season, recording six goals and one assist in 19 matches.

Hajime Moriyasu handed him a Japan debut against Indonesia in June 2025. He has since earned five caps, featuring against Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Ghana. His most recent call-up came in March this year, when he was an unused substitute against England.

The year 2024 proved a turning point. He rose through the under-19s and under-20s to the under-23s, winning the Asian title in January this year. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals and two assists, and struck in the final against China.

That rise across club and country makes Sato both an immediate option and a long-term investment for Valencia.

Source: AS