Tatsuki Seko (瀬古 樹, Seko Tatsuki, born 22 December 1997) is a Japanese footballer who plays as defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Stoke City.

Tatsuki Seko
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-12-22) 22 December 1997 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth Adachi, Tokyo, Japan[1]
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Stoke City
Number 12
Youth career
2008–2015 Mitsubishi Yowa
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Meiji University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Yokohama FC 66 (3)
2022–2024 Kawasaki Frontale 66 (1)
2024– Stoke City 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:09, 26 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Early career

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Seko was born in Adachi, Tokyo and began playing football with the youth teams at Mitsubishi Yowa and in 2015 he was selected to play for the Japan national under-18 team and participated in a training camp.[2] He entered Meiji University in 2016 and was a regular with the football team from his fourth year.[3] In 2019 he rejected an offer from J2 League side Montedio Yamagata and later agreed to turn professional with Yokohama FC in 2020.[4] In August of the same year Seko was approved as a J.League designated special player.[5]

Yokohama FC

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Seko officially joined Yokohama FC on 13 January 2020.[6] He made his J1 League debut on the opening day against Vissel Kobe, scoring in a 1–1 draw, which was Yokohama's first top-flight goal for 13 years.[7] Seko played 36 times in the 2020 J1 League season as relegation was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Yokohama finished in 15th place.[1][8] In the 2021 season Seko played 38 times as Yokohama were relegated finishing in 20th.[1][9]

Kawasaki Frontale

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Following Yokohama's relegation Seko was reported to be wanted by J1 League clubs Nagoya Grampus and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.[10] Eventually league champions Kawasaki Frontale signed Seko on 23 December 2021.[11] He made 19 appearances in the 2022 season as Kawasaki missed out on the league title by two points to Yokohama F. Marinos.[12] In the 2023 season, Seko played 39 times as Frontale finished in 8th position and won the 2023 Emperor's Cup after beating Kashiwa Reysol in the final on penalties.[13] Seko was captain as Kawasaki Frontale defeated Vissel Kobe 1–0 in the 2024 Japanese Super Cup.[14] It was announced by Frontale in August 2024 that Seko had left the team in order to complete a move abroad.[15]

Stoke City

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Seko signed a three-year contract with EFL Championship club Stoke City on 30 August 2024.[16][17]

Career statistics

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As of match played 26 November 2024.[1]
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Contentinal Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Meiji University 2019 2 0 2 0
Yokohama FC 2020 J1 League 33 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 36 2
2021 J1 League 33 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 38 1
Total 66 3 0 0 8 0 0 0 74 3
Kawasaki Frontale 2022 J1 League 13 0 2 1 1 0 2[c] 0 1[d] 0 19 1
2023 J1 League 28 1 6 2 5 2 0 0 0 0 39 5
2024 J1 League 25 0 2 0 0 0 7[c] 1 1[d] 0 35 1
Total 66 1 10 3 6 2 9 1 2 0 93 7
Stoke City 2024–25 EFL Championship 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
Career total 140 4 12 3 15 2 9 1 2 0 176 10
  1. ^ Includes Emperor's Cup and FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup and J. League Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in AFC Champions League
  4. ^ a b Appearances in Japanese Super Cup

Honours

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Club

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Kawasaki Frontale

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Tatsuki Seko at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. ^ "U-18日本代表候補トレーニングキャンプ(3/24~28)メンバー・スケジュール" [U-18 Japan National Team Candidates Training Camp (March 24-28) Members and Schedule]. Japan FA (in Japanese). 10 March 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  3. ^ "[MOM611]明治大MF瀬古樹(4年)_ぶっつけ本番のトップ下起用でゴール!" [[MOM611] Meiji University MF Seko Itsuki (4th year) _ Scored a goal after being deployed as a second striker on the spot!]. gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 27 November 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  4. ^ "J1昇格横浜FCに明大・瀬古加入「開幕先発狙う」" [Yokohama FC, promoted to J1 League, has joined Meiji University's Seko, "aiming to be in the starting lineup for the opening game"]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 27 November 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  5. ^ "瀬古樹 選手(明治大学 )JFA ・ J リーグ特別指定選手承認のお知らせ" [Announcement of approval of Seko Tatsuki (Meiji University) as a JFA/J.League special designated player]. Yokohama FC (in Japanese). 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  6. ^ "2020シーズントップチーム体制および 選手背番号のお知らせ" [2020 season top team structure and player numbers announced]. Yokohama FC (in Japanese). 13 January 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  7. ^ "公式戦8連勝中の神戸から横浜FCが先制!クラブ13年ぶりのJ1での得点は大卒ルーキー" [Yokohama FC takes the lead against Kobe, who are on an eight-match winning streak in official matches! The club's first goal in J1 in 13 years is scored by a university graduate rookie]. Yokohama FC (in Japanese). 23 February 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  8. ^ "J. League to skip relegation as schedule threatened by coronavirus" (Press release). The Japan Times. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Trinita, Vegalta and Yokohama FC all relegated, one drop spot still to be decided". J League. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  10. ^ "J2降格横浜FC主力流出危機 瀬古樹、松尾佑介にJ複数クラブ興味" [Yokohama FC in danger of losing key players after relegation to J2; multiple J-League clubs interested in Seko Itsuki and Matsuo Yusuke]. Nikkan Sports. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ "瀬古樹選手加入のお知らせ" [Announcement of the addition of Seko Itsuki]. Kawasaki Frontale. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Yokohama F·Marinos win the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J1 League!". J League. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Frontale outlast Reysol in epic penalty kick shootout to win Emperor's Cup". J League. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Kawasaki capture Fujifilm Super Cup 2024". J League. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  15. ^ "瀬古樹選手 チーム離脱のお知らせ" [Announcement of Itsuki Seko's departure from the team]. Kawasaki Frontale. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Seko signs for City". Stoke City. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Stoke get Cannon on loan and sign Seko". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  18. ^ "【天皇杯・決勝速報】PK戦まで続く激闘の末、川崎フロンターレに軍配。柏レイソルは猛攻実らず惜敗". Football Channel. 9 December 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "神戸vs川崎Fの試合結果・データ (Fujifilm Super Cup: 2024年2月17日)". J.League. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
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