K. Shiogai

Kento Shiogai (塩貝 健人, Shiogai Kento; born 26 March 2005) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for German 2. Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Japan national team.

High school Shiogai played on Buddy SC Koto (U-12), and on Yokohama FC U-15s. On Yokohama FC, he barely played, and failed to win promotion to its U-18s. It was on high school football, though, that he gained prominence and national relevance. Playing for Kokugakuin University Kugayama High School, he was its captain on his third year of high school. He started to be highlighted by media during the end of 2023, when his team won the Tokyo preliminaries for the 2023 All Japan High School Soccer Tournament. His performances on the preliminaries included decisive goals for Kokugakuin Kugayama, finished off with a brace against Teikyo High School in the match that qualified them to the national tournament. He stated that he wanted to win the national tournament, and being its top scorer, prior to the start of the tournament.