Ritsu Doan is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for SC Freiburg in the German Bundesliga and the Japan national team.
In this article, you will know Ritsu Doan‘s net worth, salary, career earnings, contract, stats, wife, career overview, and more.
Ritsu Doan’s Biography
| Full Name | Ritsu Doan |
| Current Club | SC Freiburg |
| Position | Winger |
| Shirt No. | 42 |
| Date of Birth | 16 June 1998 |
| Age | 24 |
| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Birthplace | Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Net Worth | €1.5 million |
| Outfitter | Puma |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| @doanritsu |
Ritsu Doan was born on 16 June 1998, in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan. A Japanese club, Gamba Osaka’s youth product Doan played for Groningen, PSV, and SC Freiburg.
The winger made his international debut for Japan in 2018. He played for the Samurai Blues in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
International Career
Ritsu Doan has been named in Japan’s FIFA World Cup 2022 squad. In the Qatar World Cup, he scored 2 crucial goals in the Group Stage against Germany and Japan to lead his nation to the knockout stages.
He came off the bench in the second half, while Japan was 0-1 down against Germany in their first game, and scored the equalizer within 4 minutes.
Japan went on to win 2-1. Again, he came off the bench and scored an equalizer inside two minutes to beat Spain 2-1 in their final group-stage game.
Ritsu Doan also played in the 2018 World Cup for Japan. In 2016, Doan played in the AFC U-19 Championship and led his nation to win the title.
He was awarded the tournament MVP and the Asian Young Footballer of the Year in 2016. As of 1 Dec. 2022, Doan has 32 caps for Japan and 5 goals.
Club Career
Ritsu Doan made his senior debut for the Japanese club Gamba Osaka in 2015. He played 15 games and scored 3 goals before joining Groningen on loan.
Doan joined PSV Eindhoven in 2019. He played two seasons for the Dutch club, playing 43 league games and scoring 10 goals. He helped the club win the 2021-22 KNVB Cup.
In 2022, the German club SC Freiburg signed the Japanese winger for the 2022-23 season.
Ritsu Doan’s Net Worth Details
Japan winger Ritsu Doan’s net worth is estimated to be €1.5 million as of 2025. His salary for SC Freiburg is undisclosed.
He earned €380,000 for the 2021-22 season playing for PSV Eindhoven. The 24-year-old’s prime sources of earnings are his football contracts, endorsements, bonuses, and sponsorship deals.
Contract
In 2022, Ritsu Doan signed a season-long contract with AC Freiburg, which will expire at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Salary Per Season
| Season | Club | Salary per Season |
| 2021-22 | PSV | €380,000 |
| 2020-21 | Arminia Bielefeld (on loan) | €380,000 |
| 2019-20 | PSV | €190,000 |
Endorsement
Japan’s Ritsu Doan is a Puma-endorsed player. He will wear the Puma Ultra Ultimate soccer cleats for the 2022-23 season.
Career Stats
Bundesliga: SC Freiburg
| Season | Match | Goal | Assist |
| 2022-23 | 15 (as of 13 Nov. 2022) | 2 | 2 |
International Career: Japan
| Year | Appearance | Goals |
| 2018 -Present | 32 | 5 |
FAQs
1. What is Ritsu Doan’s current club and how has he performed in the 2024/25 season?
Ritsu Doan currently plays for SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga, wearing jersey number 42. In the 2024/25 season, he has scored 9 goals and provided 7 assists in 32 matches. He has been in the starting lineup for most games and ranks highly in tackling duels won (349), placing sixth in the league for this statistic. His performance has made him a key offensive player for Freiburg.
2. How many caps does Ritsu Doan have for Japan and what are his notable international achievements?
Ritsu Doan has earned 57 caps for Japan, scoring 10 goals as of March 2025. His most notable international achievement came during the 2022 World Cup where he scored equalizers in Japan’s comeback victories against both Germany and Spain in the group stage. He was also part of the Japan team that finished as runners-up in the 2019 Asian Cup.
3. Why is Ritsu Doan sometimes called the “Japanese Messi” and what are his playing characteristics?
Doan earned the nickname “Japanese Messi” after his impressive performances at the 2017 U-20 World Cup, particularly a brilliant run and finish against Italy. At 1.72m tall and 70kg, he shares a similar physical stature to Messi. He’s predominantly left-footed and known for his speed, technical skills, and physical strength despite his size. His dribbling ability and knack for scoring important goals further reinforce the comparison.
4. What has been Ritsu Doan’s career progression in European football?
Doan left Gamba Osaka in 2017 to join Dutch club FC Groningen on loan, which became permanent in 2018. After impressing with 16 goals and 7 assists in 66 games, he moved to PSV Eindhoven in 2019. Following a difficult first season, he spent 2020-21 on loan at Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga before returning to PSV. In July 2022, he transferred to SC Freiburg for €8.5 million, where he has established himself as a key player.
5. How did Ritsu Doan begin his football career and develop as a young player?
Ritsu Doan began playing football at age three, following his two older brothers to local club Urakaze FC. After failing a selection for Cerezo Osaka Academy in fourth grade, he moved to Nishinomiya Soccer School where he developed further. He eventually joined Gamba Osaka’s youth academy and was part of their U-15 treble-winning team in 2012. He made his senior debut in 2015 at just 16 years and 344 days old, becoming the youngest player in the club’s J1 League history.
