Taito Kanda

Taito Kanda
Personal information
Date of birth (2008-05-07) 7 May 2008 (age 18)
Place of birth Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 RB Leipzig
(on loan from RB Omiya Ardija)
Youth career
RB Omiya Ardija
2026– → RB Leipzig (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026– RB Omiya Ardija 3 (0)
2026– → RB Leipzig (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2024 Japan U16 6 (1)
2025 Japan U17 7 (0)
2026– Japan U19 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals as of 11 June 2026

Taito Kanda (神田 泰斗, Kanda Taito; born 4 June 2004), is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for RB Leipzig on loan from RB Omiya Ardija.

Early life

Kanda was born on 4 June 2004 in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Growing up, he regarded Japan international Shunsuke Nakamura as his football idol.

Club career

As a youth player, Kanda joined the youth academy of RB Omiya Ardija. In 2025, he signed his first professional contract with the club at the age of seventeen.

On 3 April 2026, he debuted for their senior team during a 3–0 home win over FC Gifu in the league. Ahead of the 2026–27 season, he was sent on loan to the youth academy of German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, where he played in the UEFA Youth League.

International career

Kanda is a Japan youth international and has represented the country internationally at under-16, under-17 and under-19 levels. Altogether, he made six appearances and scored one goal while playing for the Japan national under-16 football team and made seven appearances and scored zero goals while playing for the Japan national under-17 football team.

On 19 February 2025, he debuted for the Japan national under-17 football team during a 3–2 away friendly win over the Paraguay national under-17 football team. During the spring of 2025, he played for the Japan national under-17 football team at the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

Style of play

Kanda plays as a midfielder and is left-footed. Japanese news website FOOTBALL ZONE wrote in that he "plays as a defensive midfielder, is a skilled playmaker who can call for passes from teammates in the gaps between opponents and distribute attacking passes. His accurate left foot is also a weapon in set pieces".

References

  1. ↑ "ユース取材ライター陣が推薦する「クラセン注目の11傑」vol.1" ["The Top 11 Players to Watch at the Youth Championship" - Recommended by our youth reporters, Vol. 1] (in Japanese). Gekisaka. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "ＲＢ大宮アルディージャ　男女の未来を担う１７歳の逸材が初対談... 神田泰斗、佐藤百音が語る"レッドブル効果"とは" [RB Omiya Ardija's 17-year-old prodigies, who represent the future of both men's and women's football, hold their first joint interview... What is the "Red Bull effect" that Taito Kanda and Mone Sato talk about] (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Taito Kanda at WorldFootball.net
  4. ↑ "「全然今のままじゃダメ」U-17代表を牽引する大宮U-18の司令塔・神田泰斗の想い。理想と現実の狭間で苦しむ時間がさらなる成長の糧に" ["Things can't stay the way they are," says Taito Kanda, the playmaker for Omiya U-18 and leader of the U-17 national team. The struggles between ideals and reality will fuel further growth] (in Japanese). SOCCER DIGEST Web. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "次代を担う日本の逸材…16歳司令塔が狙う「アジア1」と「史上最年少」　RB大宮で刺激「今年中には出たい」" [A rising star for Japan who will lead the next generation... The 16-year-old point guard aims for "Asia's No. 1" and "Youngest Ever" titles; inspired by playing for RB Omiya: "I want to make it this year"] (in Japanese). FOOTBALL ZONE. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2026.