Anthony Aoki

Anthony Tadashi Aoki Nakama (born 8 June 2000) is a Peruvian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Peruvian Segunda División side Alianza Universidad.

Career

Aoki started playing football at Carper Club-Aelu, where he already at the age of 4 played with boys up to 7 years old. At that time, he played as a forward but later began playing in the midfielder. Aoki then joined Deportivo AELU where he captained with great success in all the minor categories of the club, until he was summoned to train in some micro-cycles of the Peruvian U13 team (in 2012), coached by JJ Oré. Two years later, he was also included in the Peruvian U15 national team squad. In 2015, he received an offer from Sporting Cristal, which he accepted.

In February 2017, Aoki was called up for the Peruvian U17 national team to play in the 2017 South American U-17 Championship who would take place from February 23 to March 19. Aoki was also the team captain. He played four games for the team in the South American Championship.

In July 2017, Aoki went on a two-week trial at Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos due to an invitation that arose out of the interest of Manchester City agents. Yokohama is owned by City Football Group, the holding company of Manchester City. Aoki was spotted by the City agents during the 2017 South American U-17 Championship with the U17 national team and told his representatives, that they would like him to belong to their company.

Already at the age of 17, Aoki was training with Sporting Cristal's first team and in 2017, he signed his first professional contract with Cristal. He played his first game for Cristal in January 2019 in a friendly game against Ecuadorian club C.S. Emelec. Unfortunately shortly after, Aoki suffered an injury that took him away from the courts, preventing him from playing for Cristal. To gain some experience and game fitness, he was loaned out to Peruvian Segunda División club Unión Huaral in August 2019 for the remainder of the year. He made seven appearances for the team before returning to Cristal in 2020.

At the end of February 2020, he was loaned out to Ayacucho FC. He made six appearances for the club. On 28 January 2021 it was reported, that Aoki would continue at Ayacucho FC on loan for another year.

In February 2022, Aoki moved to Peruvian Segunda División side Alianza Universidad on a permanent transfer.

Personal life

Aoki is also holding a Japanese passport. His role model is former FC Barcelona legend Xavi.