{{Short description|Japanese footballer (born 1998)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Moeka Minami <br> {{nobold|南 萌華}} | image = Supercoppa di calcio femminile 2022, Moeka Minami, festeggiamenti 55 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Minami with A.S. Roma in 2022 | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|12|7|df=y}} | birth_place = Yoshikawa, Saitama, Japan | height = 1.71 m | position = Centre back | currentclub = Brighton & Hove Albion | clubnumber = 3 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Yoshikawa White Shark | youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2016 | youthclubs2 = Urawa Reds | years1 = 2017–2022 | clubs1 = Urawa Reds | caps1 = 68 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2022–2025 | clubs2 = Roma | caps2 = 73 | goals2 = 6 | years3 = 2025– | clubs3 = Brighton & Hove Albion | caps3 = 17 | goals3 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2014 | nationalteam1 = Japan U-17 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2018 | nationalteam2 = Japan U-20 | nationalcaps2 = 6 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2019– | nationalteam3 = Japan | nationalcaps3 = 71 | nationalgoals3 = 5 | manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 = | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's football}} {{Medal|Country|{{Fbw|JPN}}}} {{Medal|Competition|AFC Women's Asian Cup}} {{Medal|Winner|2026 Australia|}} {{Medal|Competition|FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup}} {{Medal|Winner|2018 France|}} {{Medal|Competition|AFC U-19 Women's Championship}} {{Medal|Winner|2017 China|}} {{Medal|Competition|FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup}} {{Medal|Winner|2014 Costa Rica|}} {{Medal|Competition|AFC U-16 Women's Championship}} {{Medal|Winner|2013 China|}} | club-update = 16 May 2026 | nationalteam-update = 07:21, 20 April 2026 (UTC) }} {{Nihongo|'''Moeka Minami'''|南 萌華|Minami Moeka|{{IPA|ja|mina̠mi̠ moe̞ka̠|lang}}|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 == 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=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!! |url=http://www.redspress.jp/index/ladies_news/ARTICLE1/2021051500002 |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=redspress.jp}}</ref> She began her youth career when she joined the junior youth team of Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.
==Club career==
=== Urawa Reds === She was promoted to Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds from the youth team in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=三菱重工浦和レッズレディース {{!}} URAWA RED DIAMONDS LADIES |url=https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/redsladies |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=三菱重工浦和レッズレディース |language=ja}}</ref>
=== AS Roma === On 24 July 2022, Minami signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie A club Roma.<ref>[https://www.asroma.com/it/notizie/2022/07/moeka-minami-e-una-nuova-calciatrice-giallorossa/ A.S.Roma] {{in lang|it}}</ref> She made her debut for the club on 19 August 2022 in a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win against Glasgow City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women's Champions League: Sparkling victory to see off Glasgow City! |url=https://www.asroma.com/news/2022/8/women-s-champions-league-sparkling-victory-to-see-off-glasgow-city |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=asroma.com |language=en}}</ref> On 10 September 2022, she scored her first goal for the club in a Serie A match against AC Milan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=AC Milan Women beaten 2–0 by Roma as tough start continues – the highlights |url=https://sempremilan.com/ac-milan-women-2-0-as-roma-report |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=SempreMilancom |language=en}}</ref> Later in the same month, she scored again for the club in a 4–1 win against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roma Women 4-1 Sparta Prague: UWCL group stage secured! |url=https://www.asroma.com/news/2022/9/roma-women-4-1-sparta-prague-uwcl-group-stage-secured |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=asroma.com |language=en}}</ref> On 5 November, Minami won her first silverware with Roma as they beaten Juventus in a penalty shootout in the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana.<ref name="Clancy">{{Cite web |last=Clancy |first=Conor |date=2022-11-05 |title=AS Roma beat Juventus on penalties to win Supercoppa Femminile |url=https://total-italianfootball.com/as-roma-win-supercoppa-femminile-juventus-penalties/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Total Italian Football |language=en-GB}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=AP |date=2023-04-29 |title=Roma dominates and wins Serie A Women for first time |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/roma-wins-serie-a-womens-title-spugna-italian-football-news-updates/article66794613.ece |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}}</ref>
On 8 February 2024, Minami penned a two-year contract extension with Roma which keeps her with the club until 30 June 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moeka Minami pens new deal with Roma Women! |url=https://www.asroma.com/en/news/70487/moeka-minami-pens-new-deal-with-roma-women |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.asroma.com |language=en}}</ref> She won her second Serie A title back to back with Roma at the end of the 2023–24 Serie A season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=bren |date=2024-04-27 |title=Official: Roma Wins Back-to-Back League Titles!! |url=https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2024/4/27/24142053/official-roma-wins-back-to-back-league-titles |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Chiesa Di Totti |language=en}}</ref>
=== Brighton & Hove Albion === On 21 June 2025, it was announced that Minami had signed for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minami signs for Albion |url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/media-article/wft-news-minami-signs-for-albion |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|date=21 June 2025 |access-date=21 June 2025}}</ref>
==International career==
=== Youth === In 2014, Minami was selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2014 U-17 World Cup.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024535/https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/archive/costarica2014/teams/team=1914191/players.html FIFA]</ref> 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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180820203426/https://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/teams/team/1888600/ FIFA]</ref> She played all six matches as center-back and team captain. Japan won the championship and Minami received the Bronze Ball award.
=== Senior === 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.<ref>[http://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/2019_shebelieves_cup/match_page/m3.html Japan Football Association]</ref>
On 10 May 2019, Minami was included in the 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jfa.jp/women/news/00021202/ |title=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|trans-title=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 |language=ja |publisher=Japan Football Association |date=11 May 2019}}</ref>
Minami was selected as part of the 22 players squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Japan in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 October 2021 |title=Japan announces women's football squad for Tokyo 2020 |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/japan-announces-women-s-football-squad-for-tokyo-2020 |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/afc_womens_asiancup_2022/member.html|title=AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 - Selected Players / Staff|publisher=Japan Football Association|accessdate=7 January 2022}}</ref>
On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65883486 |access-date=2023-06-20}}</ref>
On 14 June 2024, Minami was included in the Japan squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jfa.jp/eng/national_team/news/00034044/|title=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)|publisher=Japan Football Association (JFA)|website=jfa.jp|date=14 June 2024}}</ref>
Minami was part of the Japan squad that won the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 February 2025 |title=United States vs Japan: Japan wins SheBelieves Cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cx2xy4v29x5t |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=BBC Sport |language= |archive-date=27 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227093641/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cx2xy4v29x5t |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career statistics==
=== Club === {{updated|match played 31 May 2026}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |National Cup{{Efn|includes Empress's Cup, Coppa Italia}} ! colspan="2" |League Cup{{Efn|includes Nadeshiko League Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Continental{{Efn|includes UEFA Women's Champions League}} ! colspan="2" |Others ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- | rowspan="6" |Urawa Reds |2017 |Nadeshiko League |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |0 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — |3 |0 |- |2018 |Nadeshiko League |14 |1 |4 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — |20 |1 |- |2019 |Nadeshiko League |17 |0 |5 |1 |4 |1 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — |26 |2 |- |2020 |Nadeshiko League |17 |0 |5 |1 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — |22 |1 |- |2021–22 |WE League |20 |2 |4 |0 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — |24 |2 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !68 !3 !18 !2 !9 !1 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !95 !6 |- | rowspan="4" |AS Roma |2022–23 |Serie A |25 |2 |4 |0 | colspan="2" | — |11 |1 |1{{efn|Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana|name=SI}} |0 |41 |3 |- |2023–24 |Serie A |24 |1 |5 |2 | colspan="2" |— |7 |0 |1{{efn|name=SI}} |0 |35 |3 |- |2024–25 |Serie A |24 |3 |5 |0 | colspan="2" |— |8 |1 |1{{efn|name=SI}} |0 |38 |4 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !73 !6 !14 !2 ! colspan="2" |— !26 !2 !3 !0 !114 !10 |- |Brighton & Hove Albion |2025–26 |Women's Super League |17 |0 |5 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |23 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career Total !158 !9 !37 !4 !10 !1 !26 !2 !3 !0 !232 !16 |}
{{Notelist}}
=== International === {{updated|match played 18 April 2026}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/member/minami_moeka.html | title=Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association }}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National Team !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="8" |Japan |2019||10||0 |- |2020 |2 |0 |- |2021 |8 |1 |- |2022 |9 |0 |- |2023 |16 |3 |- |2024 |11 |0 |- |2025 |8 |1 |- |2026 |7 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total||71||5 |}
:''Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Minami goal.''
{| class="wikitable" |+ List of international goals scored by Moeka Minami |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition !Ref |- |align=center|1 |8 April 2021 |Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan |{{fbw|PAR}} |align=center|1–0 |align=center|7–0 |Friendly | |- |align=center|2 |14 July 2023 |Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan |{{fbw|PAN}} |align=center|5–0 |align=center|5–0 |Friendly |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Starting Lineup/Result {{!}} MS＆AD CUP 2023 {{!}} Nadeshiko Japan {{!}} Japan National Team {{!}} Japan Football Association |url=https://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/20230714/match_page.html#pankz |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.jfa.jp}}</ref> |- |align=center|3 |29 October 2023 |Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan |{{fbw|UZB}} |align=center|1–0 |align=center|2–0 |2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament | |- |align=center|4 |3 December 2023 |Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil |{{fbw|BRA}} |align=center|1–0 |align=center|2–0 |Friendly | |- |align=center|5 |20 February 2025 |Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas, United States |{{fbw|AUS}} |style="text-align:center"|4–0 |style="text-align:center"|4–0 |2025 SheBelieves Cup |}
== Honours == '''Urawa Reds''' * Nadeshiko League: 2020 * Empress's Cup: 2021 * Empress's Cup runner-up: 2019, 2020 * Nadeshiko League Cup runner-up: 2017 '''AS Roma''' * Serie A: 2022–23,<ref name=":0" /> 2023–24 * Coppa Italia: 2023–24 * Supercoppa Italiana: 2022, 2024<ref name="Clancy"/> '''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''' * AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2026 * EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2019 *SheBelieves Cup: 2025<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rueter |first=Jeff |last2=Linehan |first2=Meg |title=Japan unseats USWNT in SheBelieves Cup, ending 5-year tournament winning streak |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6163279/2025/02/27/japan-uswnt-shebelieves-cup-winning-streak/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
'''Individual''' * EAFF E-1 Football Championship MVP: 2019 * Nadeshiko League/WE League Best Eleven: 2019, 2020, 2021-2022
;Individual *Serie A Women's Team of the Year: 2022–23<ref name="gala2023">{{Cite web |date=4 December 2023 |title=Gran Galà del Calcio: tutti i vincitori della serata LIVE |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2023/12/04/gala-del-calcio-2023-premi-vincitori |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=Sky Sport |language=it}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * [http://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/member/minami_moeka.html Japan Football Association] * {{FIFA player}} * {{Soccerway}} * {{WorldFootball.net}}
{{Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. squad}} {{Navboxes |title=Japan squads |bg=#0000C8 |fg=#FFFFFF |bordercolor=#FF0000 |list1= {{Japan squad 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup}} {{Japan women's football squad 2020 Summer Olympics}} {{Japan squad 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup}} {{Japan squad 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup}} {{Japan women's football squad 2024 Summer Olympics}} {{Japan squad 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minami, Moeka}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Football people from Saitama Prefecture Category:Japanese women's footballers Category:Women's association football central defenders Category:Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies players Category:AS Roma (women) players Category:Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. players Category:Nadeshiko League players Category:Serie A (women's football) players Category:Women's Super League players Category:Japan women's international footballers Category:2019 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic footballers for Japan Category:Japanese expatriate women's footballers Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Italy Category:Japanese expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:21st-century Japanese sportswomen Category:2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup players Category:2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup players