Hiroki Sekine

Hiroki Sekine
関根 大輝

Personal information
Full name	Hiroki Sekine
Date of birth	(2002-08-11) 11 August 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Right back
Team information
Current team	Reims
Number	3
Youth career
	Tohgendai FC
2014–2016	Shizuoka Gakuen Junior High School
2017–2019	Shizuoka Gakuen High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Takushoku University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023	→ Kashiwa Reysol (loan)	0	(0)
2024–2025	Kashiwa Reysol	31	(0)
2025–	Reims	0	(0)
International career^‡
2022–2024	Japan U23	17	(0)
Medal record Representing  Japan Asian Games 2022 Hangzhou Team AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024 Qatar Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 August 2024

Hiroki Sekine (関根 大輝, Sekine Hiroki, born 11 August 2002) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right back for French Ligue 1 club Reims.

Club career

Born in Shizuoka, Sekine attended the Shizuoka Gakuen High School. He won the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 2019 with his high school team as a back-up center back. After graduating from high school in 2021, he was didn't receive any contract offer from professional clubs, leading him to enter the Takushoku University. Here, he was repositioned to play as a right back.[2]

In May 2023, Kashiwa Reysol announced the signature of Sekine from 2025 and registered him in the squad as a "specially designated player".[3] On 24 May 2023, he made his professional debut in his team's 0–1 away defeat against Kashima Antlers, as part of the 2023 J.League Cup.[4] He officially joined Kashiwa Reysol, one year earlier than the scheduled transfer.[5] He quickly gain a starter spot at the club, starting in all 7 J1 League games before leaving the team to participate in the U-23 Asian Cup.[6]

On 12 January 2025, Sekine signed with Reims in France.[7]

International career

Sekine was parto of the Japan U23 squad that won the silver medal in the 2022 Asian Games. In the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup final, while Japan was leading 1–0 against Uzbekistan, he conceded a penalty in the 96th minute. Leo Kokubo later saved the penalty shot from Umarali Rakhmonaliev, securing the title for Japan.[8][9] In July 2024, he was named in Japan's squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[10]

In October 2024, he received his first call up to the Japan national team, replacing the injured Kota Takai for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Saudi Arabia and Australia.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 November 2024[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kashiwa Reysol	2023	J1 League	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
	2024	J1 League	30	0	1	0	0	0	31	0
Career total			30	0	1	0	1	0	32	0

Honours

Japan U23

• AFC U-23 Asian Cup: 2024
• Asian Games Silver Medal: 2022

References

1. "Hiroki SEKINE - Kashiwa Reysol Player" (in Japanese). J1 League. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
2. "名門・静学卒業→"非エリート街道"でU-23日本の主力へ 大学SB転向で一変…「いけるかも」" (in Japanese). Football Zone. 21 April 2024.
3. "[関東]柏内定の拓殖大DF関根大輝、SB転向で変わった人生、大学3年生でJデビュー" (in Japanese). Gekisaka. 27 May 2023.
4. "鹿島vs柏の試合結果・データ（ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ：2023年5月24日）" (in Japanese). J1 League. 24 May 2024.
5. "拓殖大学 関根 大輝選手 2024シーズンから加入" (in Japanese). Kashiwa Reysol. 12 January 2024.
6. "遅れてやってきた「大器」関根大輝が五輪代表で躍動！ 日本代表右SBの有力候補に浮上" (in Japanese). Web Sportiva. 29 April 2024.
7. "Hiroki Sekine, une nouvelle lame au SDR" [Hiroki Sekine, a new blade at the SDR] (in French). Stade de Reims. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
8. "Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title". AFC. 4 May 2024.
9. "PK献上も小久保セーブに感謝…今大会大躍進の関根大輝「人生が変わるような代表期間だった」" (in Japanese). Gekisaka. 4 May 2024.
10. "U-23日本代表 メンバー・スケジュール（7.11-8.11 フランス） 第33回オリンピック競技大会（2024／パリ）" (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
11. "SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) squad & schedule - AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road To 26 vs Saudi Arabia (10/10＠Jeddah) vs Australia (10/15＠Saitama)". JFA. 3 October 2024.
12. "Hiroki Sekine All-Time Record". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 May 2024.

External links

• Hiroki Sekine at Soccerway