"Riku Handa is not a flashy player by any means but he's been able to catch the eye in the early weeks of Japan's brilliantly bonkers J.League 100 Year Vision League, the answer to the need for football between seasons as Japan moves to a summer-to-spring calendar."
"Now 24, Handa is a young player by the standards of a league that starts 'em older. Teenagers and players in their early twenties are breaking through more often than ever but the J.League still does a roaring trade in reliable mid-twenties players exported around the world."
"Handa moved to Osaka from Yamagata at the start of 2023, attracting the attention of Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu around the same time. He was called up for Samurai Blue but is yet to make his senior international debut."
Riku Handa is a 24-year-old Japanese right-back for Gamba Osaka who has caught attention during the early weeks of Japan's 100 Year Vision League. Standing 1.76m tall and born January 1, 2002, Handa moved to Osaka from Yamagata in early 2023 and subsequently attracted the attention of Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu. Though called up for Samurai Blue, he has yet to make his senior international debut. Handa represents a familiar archetype in the J.League: reliable mid-twenties players who find success abroad in leagues like the Championship and Scottish Premiership. His performances demonstrate solid defensive capabilities, particularly in one-on-one situations. Gamba Osaka remains unbeaten in 90 minutes across their first four matches in the new competition.
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