1. Overview
Daiki Sato (佐藤 大樹Sato DaikiJapanese, born April 23, 1999) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a forward for Blaublitz Akita in the J.League.
2. Career
Daiki Sato's career progressed from his early development in youth academies to his professional engagements, including several loan spells across the J.League system.
2.1. Youth and University Career
Born in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Sato began his football development at Club Fields before joining the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo academy, progressing through their U-15 and U-18 teams. In 2017, while still with the U-18 squad, he was registered as a Type 2 Player (2種登録選手Nishu Tōroku SenshuJapanese) for the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo top team. After graduating from high school, Sato opted to attend Hosei University. During his time at Hosei University, on April 30, 2021, it was announced that he would join FC Machida Zelvia for the 2022 season. Concurrently, he was designated as a Special Designated Player (特別指定選手Tokubetsu Shitei SenshuJapanese), allowing him to play for Machida Zelvia while still enrolled in university.
2.2. Professional Career
Sato made his professional debut in the J.League on July 3, 2021, coming on as a substitute in a J2 League match against Tochigi SC during the 21st round of the season. After officially joining FC Machida Zelvia in 2022, he remained with the club until May 2023. In May 2023, he was loaned to Y.S.C.C. Yokohama in a youth development loan (育成型期限付き移籍Ikusei-gata Kigen-tsuki IsekiJapanese). With Y.S.C.C. Yokohama, Sato scored his first J.League goal on July 1, 2023, in a J3 League match against Tegevajaro Miyazaki during the 16th round. In 2024, Sato was again loaned out, this time to Blaublitz Akita.
3. Club Statistics
The table below details Daiki Sato's club-level appearances and goals across various competitions throughout his career as of the end of the 2024 season.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Hosei University | 2019 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Machida Zelvia | 2021 | J2 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | J2 League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | J2 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| YS Yokohama | 2023 | J3 League | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 | |
| Akita | 2024 | J2 League | 36 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 7 | |
| Career total | 71 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 14 | |||
Note: In 2021, Sato was registered as a Special Designated Player.
4. Personal Life
Daiki Sato was born on April 23, 1999, in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. He stands 70 in (178 cm) tall and weighs 165 lb (75 kg), with his preferred foot being his left. A notable aspect of his personal background is his connection to Akita Prefecture; his paternal grandmother resides in Omagari, making him an "Akita-kei Doosanko" (秋田系道産子Akita-lineage Hokkaido nativeJapanese), a term indicating his family roots in Akita despite being born in Hokkaido.