// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Rio Sakuma? Rio-ted to fame.

Rio Sakuma
Personal information
Date of birth	14 April 1997 (age 29)
Place of birth	Niigata, Japan
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Positions	Centre-back; right-back;
Team information
Current team	Geylang International
Number	13
Youth career
	Yoshida SC
2010–2015	Albirex Niigata
College career
Years	Team
2016–2019	Ryutsu Keizai University
Senior career*
Years	Team
2018–2019	Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki
2020	Albirex Niigata (S)
2021	Tiffy Army
2022–	Geylang International
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9:30, 15 Dec 2021 (UTC)

Rio Sakuma (佐久間理央, Sakuma Rio; born 14 April 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a centre-back or right-back for Singapore Premier League Club Geylang International FC, whom his the vice-captain.

Club career

Rio was a product of Albirex Niigata U18 team before joining and playing for Ryutsu Keizai University school team.^[1]

Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki

In 2018, Rio joined Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki which the club consisted largely of student players from Ryutsu Keizai University and served as a farm team of Ryutsu Keizai University.

Albirex Niigata Singapore

On 4 January 2020, Rio joined Albirex Niigata Singapore,^[1] a satellite team of his former club, Albirex Niigata. On 8 November 2020, he scored his first goal for the club against Hougang United in a 4-0 home win. Rio won his first ever piece of silverware en route to helping the club to win the 2020 Singapore Premier League title.^[2]

Tiffy Army

On 14 January 2021, Rio joined Cambodian Premier League club, Tiffy Army playing in the top tier of the Cambodia league.^[3]

Geylang International

On 27 November 2021, Geylang International announced that Rio as their third foreign signing for the 2022 season.^[4] This marked his return to Singapore after spending one season in Cambodia.^[2] He changed his jersey to no.9 for the 2023 Singapore Premier League season where on 28 February 2023, he scored a brace against Young Lions in a 4-2 home win.

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 Mar 2022.^[5]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
RKU Dragons	2018	Japan Football League	16	2	0	0	0	0	16	2
	2019	Japan Football League	17	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
	Total		33	2	0	0	0	0	33	2
Albirex Niigata (S)	2020	Singapore Premier League	13	1	0	0	0	0	13	1
Albirex Niigata (S)	Total		13	1	0	0	0	0	13	1
Tiffy Army	2021	Cambodian Premier League	18	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Geylang International	2022	Singapore Premier League	26	1	3	0	0	0	29	1
	2023		22	3	0	0	0	0	22	3
	2024–25		19	2	1	0	0	0	20	2
	Total		85	6	4	0	0	0	89	6
Career total			132	8	4	0	0	0	136	8

Notes

Honours

Club

Albirex Niigata Singapore

Singapore Premier League: 2020

References

1 2 "SAKUMA Rio (Ryutsu Keizai University) confirmed to join White Swans for 2020 Season". albirex.com.sg. 19 Dec 2019.
1 2 "Reconstruction of Eagles' nest begins with the arrival of new signings". gifc.org.sg. 19 Dec 2021.
↑ "Sakuma Rio has completed his transfer to TIFFY ARMY FC (Cambodia)". albirex.com.sg. 14 Jan 2021.
↑ "Our third foreign signing-Rio Sakuma". @geylanginternationalfc. 27 Nov 2021.
↑ Rio Sakuma at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 February 2020.

This biographical article related to a Japanese association football defender born in the 1990s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[albirex-1] 1 2 "SAKUMA Rio (Ryutsu Keizai University) confirmed to join White Swans for 2020 Season". albirex.com.sg. 19 Dec 2019.

[gifc19-2] 1 2 "Reconstruction of Eagles' nest begins with the arrival of new signings". gifc.org.sg. 19 Dec 2021.

[3] "Sakuma Rio has completed his transfer to TIFFY ARMY FC (Cambodia)". albirex.com.sg. 14 Jan 2021.

[4] "Our third foreign signing-Rio Sakuma". @geylanginternationalfc. 27 Nov 2021.

[5] Rio Sakuma at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 February 2020.

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