Shoma Sato (footballer)

Shoma Sato (佐藤 彰真) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Philippines Football League club Davao Aguilas.

Personal life
Sato was born in Yonezawa in the prefecture of Yamagata. He began playing football at a very young age and is currently a Yamagata Oshoshina Tourism Ambassador.

Youth career
Sato played youth football for his high school, Yonezawa Chuo HS, as well as for Yonezawa Phoenix and Abeeca Yonezawa. At the age of 19, he played for the U21 of lower league team SC Sagamihara.

Career in Japan
Sato left Sagamihara and played professionally for a number of lower tier Japanese sides. From 2018 to 2019, he played for the challengers team of Thespa Kusatsu.

After returning to Japan two years later, he played for one season at FC Awaji-shima where he made 7 appearances, playing for Vonds Ichihara the following season.

Albirex Niigata Singapore
In between his stints at Japanese clubs, Sato signed his first professional contract abroad with Albirex Niigata of the Singapore Premier League, a club then composed of mostly Japanese nationals. Albirex ended the season as champions of the 2020 Singapore Premier League, though Sato remained on the bench for most of the season and didn't play a competitive match, before departing early the next year.

Playing in Austria
Sato next played in Austria, signing for Austrian fourth-tier side Favoritner AC where he scored two goals. After a brief spell, he had a more successful stint with FC Bisamberg, making 18 appearances across two seasons.

Davao Aguilas
In 2024, Sato left Austria to sign a contract in the Philippines. He signed with Davao Aguilas, a club returning to the PFL for the first time in 6 years. He made his first start in a 1–0 win over Mendiola, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win against Manila Digger.