[REVISION HISTORY]

Ryunosuke Sato registration and debut at Valencia CF

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2026-08-25 21:44 UTC → 2026-08-26 04:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Japanese midfielder Ryunosuke Sato has performed strongly during Valencia CF’s pre-season, scoring two goals, including one in a 2-0 victory against Elche CF. While his early performances earned praise from local media, his official La Liga debut was initially uncertain due to pending registration procedures involving work visas and international transfer certificates. By August 17, Valencia resolved these administrative issues. Following approval from La Liga, Sato was cleared to participate in the season opener against Celta Vigo. The 19-year-old joined the club from FC Tokyo for a fee of 4 million euros. Prior to his move, CIES data ranked him as the 7th best attacking player under the age of 20 playing outside of Europe’s top five leagues. Sato made his La Liga debut in a 0-0 draw against Celta Vigo, starting the match and playing until the 57th minute. He became the first Japanese player to appear in official matches for Valencia’s top team. Spanish media outlets, including AS and ElDesmarque, praised his dynamic play and defensive intensity. ElDesmarque noted that many of Valencia’s attacking plays originated from him, specifically highlighting a key through ball for Arnau Danjuma. Valencia manager Carlos Corberan expressed high satisfaction with the player, noting his willingness to adapt to various roles, including the wings and central positions. His performance was so well-received that Mestalla supporters reportedly booed when he was substituted. Sato has since secured consecutive La Liga starts. In Valencia’s second match, a 0-1 loss against Real Betis, he played his first full match as a right-side midfielder in a 5-4-1 formation. During the match, he ~~created several scoring opportunities,~~ recorded four shots, including a ~~close-range shot~~ notable attempt in the 12th minute. ~~His performances have drawn comparisons to high-profile Asian players such as Lee Kang-in.~~ While he received his first La Liga yellow card for an aggressive challenge, media assessments remained largely positive.

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