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Moeka Minami

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Moeka Minami
南 萌華
Minami with A.S. Roma in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-12-07) 7 December 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Yoshikawa, Saitama, Japan
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 3
Youth career
Yoshikawa White Shark
–2016 Urawa Reds
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2022 Urawa Reds 68 (3)
2022–2025 Roma 73 (6)
2025– Brighton & Hove Albion 7 (0)
International career‡
2014 Japan U-17 1 (0)
2018 Japan U-20 6 (0)
2019– Japan 60 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 France
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 China
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Costa Rica
AFC U-16 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 China
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:16, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

Moeka Minami (南 萌華, Minami Moeka; Japanese: [mina̠mi̠ moe̞ka̠]) born 7 December 1998 is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Japan national team.

Early life

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Minami was born in Saitama Prefecture on 7 December 1998. She attended high school in Saitama Prefectural Nanryō High School. She graduated from University of Tsukuba Physical Education College in 2021.[1] She began her youth career when she joined the junior youth team of Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

Club career

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Urawa Reds

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She was promoted to Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds from the youth team in 2017.[2]

AS Roma

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On 24 July 2022, Minami signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie A club Roma.[3] She made her debut for the club on 19 August 2022 in a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win against Glasgow City.[4] On 10 September 2022, she scored her first goal for the club in a Serie A match against AC Milan.[5] Later in the same month, she scored again for the club in a 4–1 win against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League.[6] On 5 November, Minami won her first silverware with Roma as they beaten Juventus in a penalty shootout in the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana.[7] On 29 April 2023, she helped Roma clinched the 2022–23 Serie A title in a 2–1 win against Fiorentina, their first league title in club history.[8]

On 8 February 2024, Minami penned a two-year contract extension with Roma which keeps her with the club until 30 June 2026.[9] She won her second Serie A title back to back with Roma at the end of the 2023–24 Serie A season.[10]

Brighton & Hove Albion

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On 21 June 2025, it was announced that Minami had signed for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion.[11]

International career

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Youth

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In 2014, Minami was selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2014 U-17 World Cup.[12] She played one game against Paraguay in the group stage. Japan went on to win the championship.

Minami was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 2018 U-20 World Cup.[13] She played all six matches as center-back and team captain. Japan won the championship and Minami received the Bronze Ball award.

Senior

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In February 2019, Minami was selected for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on 2 March, she debuted as center back-against Brazil.[14]

On 10 May 2019, Minami was included in the 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[15]

Minami was selected as part of the 22 players squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Japan in 2021.[16] She started all 3 group matches for Japan.

On 7 January 2022, Minami was called up to the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad.[17]

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[18]

On 14 June 2024, Minami was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[19]

Minami was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.[20]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 16 November 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental[c] Others Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Urawa Reds 2017 Nadeshiko League 0 0 0 0 3 0 — — 3 0
2018 Nadeshiko League 14 1 4 0 2 0 — — 20 1
2019 Nadeshiko League 17 0 5 1 4 1 — — 26 2
2020 Nadeshiko League 17 0 5 1 — — — 22 1
2021–22 WE League 20 2 4 0 — — — 24 2
Total 68 3 18 2 9 1 — — 95 6
AS Roma 2022–23 Serie A 25 2 4 0 — 11 1 1[d] 0 41 3
2023–24 Serie A 24 1 5 2 — 7 0 1[d] 0 35 3
2024–25 Serie A 24 3 5 0 — 8 1 1[d] 0 38 4
Total 73 6 14 2 — 26 2 3 0 114 10
Brighton & Hove Albion 2025–26 Women's Super League 7 0 0 0 1 0 — — 8 0
Career Total 148 9 32 4 10 1 26 2 3 0 217 16
  1. ^ includes Empress's Cup, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ includes Nadeshiko League Cup
  3. ^ includes UEFA Women's Champions League
  4. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana

International

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As of match played 31 May 2025[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National Team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2019 10 0
2020 2 0
2021 8 1
2022 9 0
2023 16 3
2024 11 0
2025 4 1
Total 60 5
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Minami goal.
List of international goals scored by Moeka Minami
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 8 April 2021 Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan  Paraguay 1–0 7–0 Friendly
2 14 July 2023 Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan  Panama 5–0 5–0 Friendly [22]
3 29 October 2023 Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 1–0 2–0 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
4 3 December 2023 Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil  Brazil 1–0 2–0 Friendly
5 20 February 2025 Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas, United States  Australia 4–0 4–0 2025 SheBelieves Cup

Honours

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Urawa Reds

AS Roma

Japan U17

  • AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2013
  • FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: 2014

Japan U20

  • AFC U-20 Women's Asian Championship: 2017
  • FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018

Japan

Individual

  • EAFF E-1 Football Championship MVP: 2019
  • Nadeshiko League/WE League Best Eleven: 2019, 2020, 2021-2022
Individual

References

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  1. ^ "浦和レッズレディースニュース｜なでしこジャパンは合宿を実施中。南萌華「五輪に向けてトレーニングすることが務め。全力で取り組む」｜レッズプレス!!". redspress.jp. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  2. ^ "三菱重工浦和レッズレディース | URAWA RED DIAMONDS LADIES". 三菱重工浦和レッズレディース (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  3. ^ A.S.Roma (in Italian)
  4. ^ "Women's Champions League: Sparkling victory to see off Glasgow City!". asroma.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  5. ^ "AC Milan Women beaten 2–0 by Roma as tough start continues – the highlights". SempreMilancom. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Roma Women 4-1 Sparta Prague: UWCL group stage secured!". asroma.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b Clancy, Conor (5 November 2022). "AS Roma beat Juventus on penalties to win Supercoppa Femminile". Total Italian Football. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b AP (29 April 2023). "Roma dominates and wins Serie A Women for first time". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Moeka Minami pens new deal with Roma Women!". www.asroma.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  10. ^ bren (27 April 2024). "Official: Roma Wins Back-to-Back League Titles!!". Chiesa Di Totti. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Minami signs for Albion". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  12. ^ FIFA
  13. ^ FIFA
  14. ^ Japan Football Association
  15. ^ "なでしこジャパンの高倉麻子監督がFIFA女子ワールドカップに向けてメンバーを発表 ～国際親善試合 対スペイン女子代表（6/2＠ル・トゥケ）、FIFA女子ワールドカップ フランス 2019" [Nadeshiko Japan coach Asakura Takako announces members for FIFA Women's World Cup-International Goodwill vs. Spanish Women's National Team (6/2 @ Le Touquet), FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 11 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Japan announces women's football squad for Tokyo 2020". 5 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  17. ^ "AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 - Selected Players / Staff". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) squad & schedule - MS&AD Cup 2024: Noto Peninsula Earthquake Reconstruction Support Match "Ganbarou Noto" / Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (Paris 2024)". jfa.jp. Japan Football Association (JFA). 14 June 2024.
  20. ^ "United States vs Japan: Japan wins SheBelieves Cup". BBC Sport. 27 February 2025. Archived from the original on 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association".
  22. ^ "Starting Lineup/Result | MS＆AD CUP 2023 | Nadeshiko Japan | Japan National Team | Japan Football Association". www.jfa.jp. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  23. ^ Rueter, Jeff; Linehan, Meg. "Japan unseats USWNT in SheBelieves Cup, ending 5-year tournament winning streak". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  24. ^ "Gran Galà del Calcio: tutti i vincitori della serata LIVE". Sky Sport (in Italian). 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
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