FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (April 1, 2026) – New England Revolution II has signed Japanese forward/winger Shuma Sasaki to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract through the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season, with a club option for the 2027 season, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa.
Sasaki, 23, arrives in New England following a collegiate career that included stints at the University of the Cumberlands (2021-2024) and most recently, the University of Michigan (2025), where he played under current Revolution Assistant Coach Sean Hughes. This past fall, Sasaki tallied three goals and two assists over 15 matches, 13 of them starts, while pacing the team with 39 shot attempts. As a graduate student with the Wolverines, Sasaki earned All-Big Ten Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Team honors.
Prior to Michigan, the attacker registered 12 goals and 25 assists over 69 matches played, including 64 starts, across four seasons at the University of the Cumberlands. As a senior in 2024, Sasaki tallied a team-high eight helpers and collected multiple accolades, including Mid-South Conference First Team All-Conference, MSC Academic All-Conference, and Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors. The Kawasaki, Japan native also suited up for three starts with Lubbock Matadors SC of USL League Two in 2024, contributing two goals and one assist in U.S. Open Cup action.
Sasaki and Revolution II will continue the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season on Sunday, April 12, when they host Red Bull New York II at Bryant University’s Beirne Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with live coverage on MLSNEXTPro.com and the OneFootball platform, featuring Philip Galati on the call.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution II signed forward/winger Shuma Sasaki to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract through the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season, with a club option for the 2027 season, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa, on April 1, 2026.
SHUMA SASAKI
Position: Forward/winger
Date of Birth: Feb. 17, 2003 (Utsunomiya, Japan)
Hometown: Kawasaki, Japan
Height: 5-8
Weight: 163
College: University of Michigan (2025), University of the Cumberlands (2021-2024)
Nationality: Japan
