Mitsuki Saito

Early Life and Position

Mitsuki Saito is a talented Japanese footballer known for his role as a midfielder. He began his career as a defensive midfielder, showcasing his versatility on the field.

Career Progression

Saito's professional journey took off when he was promoted from the youth team to the top team of J1 League club Shonan Bellmare in 2016. He made a notable impact by scoring his first goal during a 2–1 loss against V-Varen Nagasaki in the 2018 J.League Cup. In December 2020, he took a significant step in his career by joining Russian Premier League club FC Rubin Kazan on a 1.5-year loan, which included an option to purchase. Unfortunately, his time at Rubin was marred by an ankle injury that required surgery in February 2021, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. After recovering, he made his debut for Rubin in August 2021 during a Europa Conference League qualifier against Raków Częstochowa. He later made his RPL debut against FC Khimki but faced further challenges, including being removed from the squad shortly after.

In January 2022, Saito joined Gamba Osaka on loan, continuing to seek opportunities to showcase his skills. As of September 2025, he remains an active player, contributing to his teams and developing his career further.

Honours

Saito's dedication to the sport has not gone unnoticed, as he was part of the Vissel Kobe team that won the J1 League titles in 2023 and 2024, marking significant achievements in his career.