# Moeka Minami
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeka_Minami
> Source revision: 1357073894
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{{Short description|Japanese footballer (born 1998)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Moeka Minami
{{nobold|南 萌華}}
| image = Supercoppa di calcio femminile 2022, Moeka Minami, festeggiamenti 55 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Minami with [A.S. Roma](/source/A.S._Roma_(women)) in 2022
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|12|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [Yoshikawa](/source/Yoshikawa), [Saitama](/source/Saitama_Prefecture), Japan
| height = 1.71 m
| position = [Centre back](/source/Centre_back)
| currentclub = [Brighton & Hove Albion](/source/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_W.F.C.)
| clubnumber = 3
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Yoshikawa White Shark
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2016
| youthclubs2 = [Urawa Reds](/source/Urawa_Reds_Ladies)
| years1 = 2017–2022
| clubs1 = [Urawa Reds](/source/Urawa_Reds_Ladies)
| caps1 = 68
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2022–2025
| clubs2 = [Roma](/source/A.S._Roma_Women)
| caps2 = 73
| goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2025–
| clubs3 = [Brighton & Hove Albion](/source/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_W.F.C.)
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2014
| nationalteam1 = [Japan U-17](/source/Japan_women's_national_under-17_football_team)
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2018
| nationalteam2 = [Japan U-20](/source/Japan_women's_national_under-20_football_team)
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2019–
| nationalteam3 = [Japan](/source/Japan_women's_national_football_team)
| nationalcaps3 = 71
| nationalgoals3 = 5
| manageryears1 =
| managerclubs1 =
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's [football](/source/Association_football)}}
{{Medal|Country|{{Fbw|JPN}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[AFC Women's Asian Cup](/source/AFC_Women's_Asian_Cup)}}
{{Medal|Winner|[2026 Australia](/source/2026_AFC_Women's_Asian_Cup)|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup](/source/FIFA_U-20_Women's_World_Cup)}}
{{Medal|Winner|[2018 France](/source/2018_FIFA_U-20_Women's_World_Cup)|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[AFC U-19 Women's Championship](/source/AFC_U-20_Women's_Asian_Cup)}}
{{Medal|Winner|[2017 China](/source/2017_AFC_U-19_Women's_Championship)|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup](/source/FIFA_U-17_Women's_World_Cup)}}
{{Medal|Winner|[2014 Costa Rica](/source/2014_FIFA_U-17_Women's_World_Cup)|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[AFC U-16 Women's Championship](/source/AFC_U-17_Women's_Asian_Cup)}}
{{Medal|Winner|[2013 China](/source/2013_AFC_U-16_Women's_Championship)|}}
| 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](/source/Association_football) who plays as a [defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)) for [Women's Super League](/source/Women's_Super_League) club [Brighton & Hove Albion](/source/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_W.F.C.) and the [Japan national team](/source/Japan_women's_national_football_team).
== Early life ==
Minami was born in [Saitama Prefecture](/source/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.[{{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}}] 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](/source/Nadeshiko_League) club [Urawa Reds](/source/Urawa_Reds_Ladies) from the youth team in 2017.[{{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}}]
=== AS Roma ===
On 24 July 2022, Minami signed a two-year contract with Italian [Serie A](/source/Serie_A_(women's_football)) club [Roma](/source/A.S._Roma_(women)).[[https://www.asroma.com/it/notizie/2022/07/moeka-minami-e-una-nuova-calciatrice-giallorossa/ A.S.Roma] {{in lang|it}}] She made her debut for the club on 19 August 2022 in a 3–1 [UEFA Champions League](/source/UEFA_Women's_Champions_League) win against [Glasgow City](/source/Glasgow_City_F.C.).[{{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}}] On 10 September 2022, she scored her first goal for the club in a Serie A match against [AC Milan](/source/A.C._Milan_Women).[{{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}}] Later in the same month, she scored again for the club in a 4–1 win against [Sparta Praha](/source/AC_Sparta_Prague_(women)) in the UEFA Champions League.[{{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}}] On 5 November, Minami won her first silverware with Roma as they beaten Juventus in a penalty shootout in the [2022 Supercoppa Italiana](/source/2022_Supercoppa_Italiana_(women)).[{{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}}] On 29 April 2023, she helped Roma clinched the [2022–23 Serie A](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Serie_A_(women)) title in a 2–1 win against [Fiorentina](/source/ACF_Fiorentina_(women)), their first league title in club history.[{{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}}]
On 8 February 2024, Minami penned a two-year contract extension with Roma which keeps her with the club until 30 June 2026.[{{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}}] She won her second [Serie A](/source/Serie_A_(women's_football)) title back to back with Roma at the end of the [2023–24 Serie A](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Serie_A_(women)) season.[{{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}}]
=== Brighton & Hove Albion ===
On 21 June 2025, it was announced that Minami had signed for [Women's Super League](/source/Women's_Super_League) club [Brighton & Hove Albion](/source/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_W.F.C.).[{{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}}]
==International career==
=== Youth ===
In 2014, Minami was selected for the [Japan U-17 national team](/source/Japan_women's_national_under-17_football_team) for the [2014 U-17 World Cup](/source/2014_FIFA_U-17_Women's_World_Cup).[[https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024535/https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/archive/costarica2014/teams/team=1914191/players.html FIFA]] She played one game against [Paraguay](/source/Paraguay_women's_national_under-17_football_team) in the group stage. Japan went on to win the championship.
Minami was selected for the [Japan U-20 national team](/source/Japan_women's_national_under-20_football_team) for the [2018 U-20 World Cup](/source/2018_FIFA_U-20_Women's_World_Cup).[[https://web.archive.org/web/20180820203426/https://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/teams/team/1888600/ FIFA]] 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](/source/Japan_national_football_team) for the [SheBelieves Cup](/source/2019_SheBelieves_Cup). At this tournament, on 2 March, she debuted as center back-against [Brazil](/source/Brazil_women's_national_football_team).[[http://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/2019_shebelieves_cup/match_page/m3.html Japan Football Association]]
On 10 May 2019, Minami was included in the 23-player squad for the [2019 FIFA Women's World Cup](/source/2019_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup).[{{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](/source/Japan_Football_Association) |date=11 May 2019}}]
Minami was selected as part of the 22 players squad for the [2020 Summer Olympics](/source/2020_Summer_Olympics) held in Japan in 2021.[{{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}}] She started all 3 group matches for Japan.
On 7 January 2022, Minami was called up to the [2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup](/source/2022_AFC_Women's_Asian_Cup) squad.[{{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](/source/Japan_Football_Association)|accessdate=7 January 2022}}]
On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the [FIFA Women's World Cup 2023](/source/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup_2023).[{{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}}]
On 14 June 2024, Minami was included in the Japan squad for the [2024 Summer Olympics](/source/Football_at_the_2024_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_tournament).[{{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)](/source/Japan_women's_national_football_team)|website=jfa.jp|date=14 June 2024}}]
Minami was part of the Japan squad that won the [2025 SheBelieves Cup](/source/2025_SheBelieves_Cup).[{{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 }}]
==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](/source/Empress's_Cup), [Coppa Italia](/source/Coppa_Italia_(women))}}
! colspan="2" |League Cup{{Efn|includes [Nadeshiko League Cup](/source/Nadeshiko_League_Cup)}}
! colspan="2" |Continental{{Efn|includes [UEFA Women's Champions League](/source/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](/source/Urawa_Reds_Ladies)
|2017
|[Nadeshiko League](/source/Nadeshiko_League)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|3
|0
| colspan="2" | —
| colspan="2" | —
|3
|0
|-
|2018
|[Nadeshiko League](/source/Nadeshiko_League)
|14
|1
|4
|0
|2
|0
| colspan="2" | —
| colspan="2" | —
|20
|1
|-
|2019
|[Nadeshiko League](/source/Nadeshiko_League)
|17
|0
|5
|1
|4
|1
| colspan="2" | —
| colspan="2" | —
|26
|2
|-
|2020
|[Nadeshiko League](/source/Nadeshiko_League)
|17
|0
|5
|1
| colspan="2" | —
| colspan="2" | —
| colspan="2" | —
|22
|1
|-
|2021–22
|[WE League](/source/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](/source/AS_Roma_(women))
|2022–23
|[Serie A](/source/Serie_A_(women's_football))
|25
|2
|4
|0
| colspan="2" | —
|11
|1
|1{{efn|Appearance(s) in [Supercoppa Italiana](/source/Supercoppa_Italiana_(women))|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](/source/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_W.F.C.)
|[2025–26](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_W.F.C._season)
|[Women's Super League](/source/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}}[{{cite web | url=https://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/member/minami_moeka.html | title=Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association }}]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National Team
!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
| rowspan="8" |[Japan](/source/Japan_women's_national_football_team)
|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](/source/Yurtec_Stadium_Sendai), [Sendai](/source/Sendai), [Japan](/source/Japan)
|{{fbw|PAR}}
|align=center|1–0
|align=center|7–0
|[Friendly](/source/Exhibition_match)
|
|-
|align=center|2
|14 July 2023
|Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan
|{{fbw|PAN}}
|align=center|5–0
|align=center|5–0
|Friendly
|[{{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}}]
|-
|align=center|3
|29 October 2023
|[Milliy Stadium](/source/Milliy_Stadium), [Tashkent](/source/Tashkent), [Uzbekistan](/source/Uzbekistan)
|{{fbw|UZB}}
|align=center|1–0
|align=center|2–0
|[2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament](/source/2024_AFC_Women's_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament)
|
|-
|align=center|4
|3 December 2023
|[Estádio do Morumbi](/source/Est%C3%A1dio_do_Morumbi), [São Paulo](/source/S%C3%A3o_Paulo), [Brazil](/source/Brazil)
|{{fbw|BRA}}
|align=center|1–0
|align=center|2–0
|Friendly
|
|-
|align=center|5
|20 February 2025
|[Shell Energy Stadium](/source/Shell_Energy_Stadium), [Houston, Texas](/source/Houston%2C_Texas), United States
|{{fbw|AUS}}
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|[2025 SheBelieves Cup](/source/2025_SheBelieves_Cup)
|}
== Honours ==
'''Urawa Reds'''
* [Nadeshiko League](/source/Nadeshiko_League): [2020](/source/2020_Nadeshiko_League)
* [Empress's Cup](/source/Empress's_Cup): [2021](/source/2021_Empress's_Cup)
* Empress's Cup runner-up: [2019](/source/2019_Empress's_Cup), [2020](/source/2020_Empress's_Cup)
* [Nadeshiko League Cup](/source/Nadeshiko_League_Cup) runner-up: [2017](/source/2017_Nadeshiko_League_Cup_Final)
'''AS Roma'''
* [Serie A](/source/Serie_A_(women's_football)): [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Serie_A_(women)),[{{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}}]
'''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](/source/Serie_A_Women's_Team_of_the_Year): [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Serie_A_(women))[{{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}}]
==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
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Moeka Minami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeka_Minami) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeka_Minami?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.