Sato follows Ibusuki and Suzuki, will be Valencia’s first Japanese in Primera

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·16 June 2026

Sato follows Ibusuki and Suzuki, will be Valencia’s first Japanese in Primera

Ryunosuke Sato will become the first Japanese to play for Valencia in the Primera División. He can be registered as an under-23, but will be a first-team player under Carlos Corberán.

According to AS, Mestalla has welcomed hundreds of players of different nationalities, yet none from Japan has appeared for the senior side in the top flight.

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Two Japanese previously joined the club without making a first-team debut. Hiroshi Ibusuki, a striker from Sevilla, featured for the reserves in 13-14, and did not fit the project led by Rufete and Amadeo Salvo.

Wadi Suzuki arrived in summer 2021 from Tokushima Vortis on a two-season loan. He joined at 18 and spent one campaign under Angulo without first-team opportunities.

Sato now steps into Spanish football and into Valencia history.

Source: AS