Isa Sakamoto

Isa Sakamoto came up through the Gamba Osaka academy: in 2021 he was the top scorer in the Prince Takamado U-18 Premier League West with 15 goals for Gamba Osaka's U-23 side. His senior debut followed in March 2022 in the J.League Cup against Oita Trinita, and he stepped up to the J1 League a month later, on 6 April, against Kyoto Sanga. Over two seasons with Gamba Osaka's first team he made 58 appearances and scored 12 goals, splitting his development with a 2023 loan to J2 League side Fagiano Okayama, where he added 26 appearances and four goals. Sakamoto has also represented Japan at U-20 level, including at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where he scored against Israel. In January 2025 he moved to Belgium, joining KVC Westerlo on loan from Gamba Osaka with an option to buy. Westerlo exercised that option in the summer, making the transfer permanent and tying Sakamoto to a three-year contract. He now wears the number 13 shirt for the club, playing as a forward with the option to drop into an attacking midfield role.