Yuki Soma was born on 25 February 1997 in Tokyo, Japan, and signed with Kashima Antlers on loan from his university in 2019. After moves to Nagoya Grampus (2020), Kashima Antlers (loan), and Casa Pia in Portugal's Primeira Liga (2023, where he scored 5 goals in 33 matches), he returned to J1 with Machida Zelvia in summer 2024.
Soma's Machida years have produced his career-best output. After 11 J1 League matches in 2024, the 2025 season was outstanding: 34 J1 League matches with 9 goals and 9 assists, plus 12 AFC Champions League Elite matches with 4 goals and an assist as Machida competed in Asian club football's top continental competition for the first time.
For Japan, Soma was a key part of the squad that won the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in 2025 — scoring 2 goals and providing 4 assists in the tournament, plus an assist in 2 friendlies in 2025. He had previously won the EAFF E-1 in 2022 and the J.League Cup in 2021.
A 166cm two-footed left-sided attacker with elite acceleration, dribbling and the goal-scoring instinct to arrive in the box from the wing, Soma has become one of the J1 League's most productive attacking midfielders. He is a major candidate for the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad as a wide attacking option.