Japanese footballer
Riku Handa (半田 陸, Handa Riku, born 1 January 2002) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right back for J1 League club Gamba Osaka.[2][3]
Club career
Handa started his career with Montedio Yamagata Youth and was given his first professional contract for Montedio Yamagata in March 2019.[4] He made his first-team debut in May 2019, coming on as a late substitute for Kai Miki in a J2 League game against JEF United Chiba.[5] In July of the same year, he made his first start for the club in the second round of the Emperor's Cup in a 2–1 defeat to Tochigi SC.[6] Handa went on to play six times in his debut season.
In the 2020 season, Handa played 15 times for Montedio Yamagata but 2021 was his breakthrough year – playing in 37 games and being in the starting XI on 36 occasions. He also scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat to V-Varen Nagasaki and went on to score three goals during the rest of the season.[7] In the 2022 season, Handa was again a key member of the starting XI, playing more than 3000 minutes over 37 games. He made a total of 95 appearances in four seasons with Yamagata.
In January 2023, Handa signed for J1 League club Gamba Osaka.[8][9]
International career
In March 2023, Handa was called up to the Japan national team for the first time by manager Hajime Moriyasu to play in the 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup.[10]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 11 June 2023[11]
Honours
Japan U16
Japan U23
References
External links