Riku Handa

Riku Handa is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Gamba Osaka.

Club career

Handa started his career with Montedio Yamagata Youth and was given his first professional contract for Montedio Yamagata in March 2019. He made his first-team debut in May 2019, coming on as a late substitute for Kai Miki in a J2 League game against JEF United Chiba. In July of the same year, he made his first start for the club in the second round of the Emperor's Cup in a 2–1 defeat to Tochigi SC. Handa went on to play six times in his debut season.
In the 2020 season, Handa played 15 times for Montedio Yamagata but 2021 was his breakthrough year – playing in 37 games and being in the starting XI on 36 occasions. He also scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 defeat to V-Varen Nagasaki and went on to score three goals during the rest of the season. In the 2022 season, Handa was again a key member of the starting XI, playing more than 3000 minutes over 37 games. He made a total of 95 appearances in four seasons with Yamagata.
In January 2023, Handa signed for J1 League club Gamba Osaka.

International career

In March 2023, Handa was called up to the Japan national team for the first time by manager Hajime Moriyasu to play in the 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup.
On 4 April 2024, Handa was called up to the Japan U23 squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

Career statistics

Club

Honours

Japan U16

AFC U-16 Championship: 2018

Japan U23

AFC U-23 Asian Cup: 2024