Earlier today, Seattle Reign FC has announced the re-signing of Japanese international midfielder Rumi Utsugi for the 2018 NWSL season. Per team and league policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
The midfielder appeared in 20 matches for the club during the 2017 season, starting in 18, and tallied one goal and two assists. As a key part of the Reign FC midfield, Utsugi had the highest passing accuracy among Reign FC midfielders, and the second highest passing accuracy among all Reign FC field players.
Utsugi was voted Team MVP by her Reign FC teammates for her efforts during the season. She had either an assist or a goal in three consecutive matches in 2017.
“Rumi is probably one of the most creative players in the league,” said Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “Her decisions in the build-up phase are superb. She is very comfortable on the ball and is always an option for her teammates. She’ll have a crucial role in establishing the style of play.”
Utsugi joined Reign FC midway through the 2016 NWSL season, after signing with the team in June of that year. The midfielder’s playing career includes six seasons for NTV Beleza, and six seasons with Montpellier HSC. At the time of her signing with Montpellier, Utsugi was the first Japanese player to play in the French top division.
In her first season with Reign FC, Utsugi made seven appearances, starting six. Utsugi scored one goal in 2016, coming in her first appearance with the club on July 9th against the Western New York Flash.
Internationally, Utsugi recently reached 100 caps representing the Japan Women’s National Football Team. Utsugi was in the squad for the 2007, 2011, and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, taking home the World Cup trophy in 2011 in Japan’s 3–1 penalty shoot-out win over the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Utsugi played every minute in six of Japan’s seven matches in their 2015 World Cup campaign, firing of off four shots during the historic championship match against the US Women’s National Team on July 5, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada.
