Zion Suzuki

Zion Suzuki (鈴木 彩艶) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Parma. Born in the United States, he represents the Japan national team.

Early life
Suzuki was born in Newark, New Jersey, United States, to a Ghanaian American father and a Japanese mother. His family later moved to Japan, settling in Urawa, Saitama, where Suzuki was raised.

Urawa Red Diamonds
Suzuki's professional career began with Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds when he was sixteen years and five months old, making him the youngest player in the history of the club to sign a professional contract. Suzuki made his debut for the club on 2 March 2021 in the J.League Cup match against Shonan Bellmare where he kept a clean sheet. His first appearance in the J1 League came on 9 May 2021 in a match against Vegalta Sendai where he kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win. He would then go on to play in the next 5 consecutive league matches with main choice goalkeeper, Shusaku Nishikawa dropped due to poor performances. He recorded 4 clean sheet in 6 matches for Urawa Reds. Suzuki won the 2021 J.League Cup in his first season at the club.

Suzuki make his 2022 AFC Champions League debut against Singaporean club Lion City Sailors on 15 April 2022, however, he made a costly error after receiving a back pass from David Moberg Karlsson which resulted in a own goal. In the next match against Chinese side Shandong Taishan, he kept a clean sheet in a 5–0 win. Suzuki played in the club 4 group stage fixtures before being dropped by first choice goalkeeper, Shusuke Nishikawa in the run all the way to the 2022 AFC Champions League final. Suzuki helped the club to win the 2022 AFC Champions League trophy and the 2022 Japanese Super Cup.

Sint-Truiden
In August 2023, Suzuki was sent on loan from the Urawa Red Diamonds to Sint-Truiden, a team in the Belgian Pro League. He served as the understudy for Japanese goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt before he was named the starter.

During Suzuki's stint at Sint-Truiden, he was reportedly offered the position as a backup goalkeeper at Manchester United. However, he turned down the offer, wanting to stay at Sint-Truiden for game time.

On 1 February 2024, it was announced that Suzuki's loan with Sint-Truiden will be converted into permanent transfer for next season on 1 July 2024.

Parma
On July 15, 2024, Serie A club Parma announced the signing of Suzuki on a five-year contract.

International career
Suzuki has represented Japan at multiple levels in youth football. On 19 July 2022, he earned his first cap with the Japan national team, playing the full match against Hong Kong in the 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, which his side won 6–0.

He played in Japan's opening match of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, a 4–2 win against Vietnam. He also played in their following 1–2 defeat to Iraq, logging one save.

Club
Urawa Red Diamonds
 * AFC Champions League: 2022
 * Emperor's Cup: 2021
 * Japanese Super Cup: 2022

International
Japan
 * EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2022

Individual

 * Japan Pro-Footballers Association Best XI: 2023