Biography
Who is Zion Suzuki?
Early life and family
Zion Suzuki was born in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States. His parents are a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother. He was given a name inspired by the biblical Mount Zion located in Jerusalem. While he was still a young child, his family relocated to Japan, where he grew up in Urawa, Saitama.
He began playing soccer in kindergarten, following the example of his older brother. By the time he reached elementary school, he had settled into the role of a goalkeeper. He eventually joined the Urawa Red Diamonds academy system, progressing through their junior and youth teams. While training, he attended N High School, which operates as a correspondence school.
Professional club career
Zion signed his first professional contract with the Urawa Red Diamonds at the age of 16. This made him the youngest player in the history of that club to turn professional. He debuted in a J.League Cup match against Shonan Bellmare on March 2, 2021, keeping a clean sheet in the process. During his time there, the team won the 2022 AFC Champions League and the 2022 Japanese Super Cup.
In 2023, he moved to the Belgian club Sint-Truiden on loan, where he eventually secured the starting goalkeeper position. The move was later made permanent. He transferred to the Italian Serie A side Parma in 2024, signing a five-year deal. He became the second Japanese player to represent Parma, following Hidetoshi Nakata. He debuted for the club against Fiorentina in August 2024.
International play
Zion has represented Japan across multiple youth age groups. He earned his first cap for the senior national team on July 19, 2022, in a match against Hong Kong during the EAFF E-1 Football Championship. Japan won that game 6-0. He was also part of the squad that competed in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, where he played in matches against Vietnam and Iraq.
In May 2026, he was selected as part of the 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His style of play is often described as physically imposing. Coaches have frequently praised his ability to distribute the ball accurately from goal kicks. Statistics from the 2025-26 Serie A season indicated he ranked highly in Europe for high interceptions and successful long passes.
Personal interests
Beyond his professional career on the pitch, Zion has an interest in golf. He is a keen player of the sport, though he does not typically watch professional golf tournaments. He also enjoys listening to music by the Japanese rapper AK-69.
Birthday and age
Zion Suzuki was born on August 21, 2002, which makes Zion 24 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Zion shares the date with 65 other famous people.
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