Yusei Sugahara debuts in Serie A as Cagliari's first Japanese player
Under the floodlights of Cagliari's home ground, the roar of the crowd rose as the visitors from Atalanta pressed for an early lead. In the 68th minute, Japan international defender Yusei Sugahara replaced the injured Zé Pedro, making his Serie A debut. Cagliari went on to secure a 2‑1 victory.
【写真：Getty Images】 captured the moment Sugahara entered the pitch. The shot shows the Japanese defender receiving the ball near the right flank.
Debut on the Italian stage
The encounter was the fourth fixture of Serie A's season, played on the 12th of the month. Sugahara entered the field with the score level, as Cagliari had already taken the lead through Paul Meddi's 19th‑minute strike. At the end of the first half Gianluca Scamacca equalised, restoring parity before the break. A second‑half penalty later gave Cagliari the decisive edge, which they defended until the final whistle.
The 2‑1 win marked a rare triumph over a traditionally strong Atalanta side, reinforcing Cagliari's early‑season ambitions. It also provided Sugahara with a winning debut, a confidence boost for the Japanese defender.
Path to Cagliari and historic signing
Sugahara joined Cagliari on 1 September on a season‑long loan from Southampton, with an option to buy for €5.5 million, reported as roughly ¥1 billion. The move made him the first Japanese player in the club's history. Administrative formalities delayed his registration, preventing earlier participation in official matches.
The paperwork was finalised ahead of the Atalanta clash, allowing him to be named in the travelling squad. A product of Nagoya Grampus' youth academy, Sugahara moved to AZ in 2019 to begin his European adventure. He later signed for Southampton before spending the previous season on loan at Werder Bremen, where he featured in 31 Bundesliga games and supplied six assists.
Now aged 26, the defender adds Serie A experience to his résumé. He is also a regular member of the Japan national team.
His appearance as Cagliari's first Japanese player highlights the expanding reach of Japanese footballers into Serie A.