Takumi Minamino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Takefusa Kubo, who play for top clubs in the world, are not the most valuable players from Japan. However, Japanese football can boast many notable players competing in Europe's top national championships, even in the biggest teams. Below, Wintips has shared who is the best Japan football player with the highest transfer value.
Who is Japan best football player?
1. Morita
Santa Clara’s defensive midfielder, valued at €4 million, joined the Portuguese club in early 2021 after transferring from Kawasaki Frontale. Since joining his new team, he has made more than 50 appearances in European competitions. Although primarily a defensive midfielder, Morita has scored four crucial goals for Santa Clara, demonstrating his versatility and impact on the team.
Morita, valued at €4 million, made a significant mark at Santa Clara after moving from Kawasaki Frontale in early 2021. He has participated in more than 50 European matches, showcasing his influence as a defensive midfielder. Despite his defensive role, Morita has impressively scored four crucial goals for his team.
2. Masaya Okugawa
Okugawa, born in 1996, began his professional European career at 18 by joining RB Salzburg. He has had a remarkable journey, especially when he moved to DSC Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top league. Okugawa, a versatile midfielder, is highly regarded for his ball control, chance creation, and goal-scoring ability.
During his time at Bielefeld, Okugawa made 41 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists. His impact on Bielefeld’s gameplay in the Bundesliga has been remarkable. His versatility and quick adaptability have made him an essential part of Bielefeld’s tactical setup.
In addition to his talent for scoring goals and creating chances, Okugawa is highly regarded for his hard work and determination in every match. His maturity and experience, gained during his time at Salzburg, have helped him shine in the Bundesliga. With his potential and talent, he is expected to continue bringing success to DSC Arminia Bielefeld and may attract attention from bigger clubs in the future.
3. Kyogo Furuhashi
Japanese international Furuhashi, who plays as a winger for Celtic in Scotland, has made a strong impression and is reminiscent of former Celtic player Shunsuke Nakamura. Furuhashi, 27, joined Celtic in July 2021 for €5m and soon established himself as one of the standout players in the club's squad. He made 26 appearances, scoring 16 goals and providing 5 assists in the Scottish Premiership. Furuhashi's stellar form has reminded Celtic fans of a time when Nakamura shone while playing for the club.
Celtic have a long history with Japanese players, and Furuhashi's prominence has left fans very excited. He not only shines in scoring goals but also shines in his ability to handle the ball calmly and create dangerous chances for teammates. Furuhashi's skills and talent have amazed the Celtic board, fans, and teammates with the speed and power with which he has adapted to Scottish football.
4. Ritsu Doan
Ritsu Doan, one of the top young talents in Japanese football, has attracted significant attention from fans not only in his home country but also around the world, including Vietnam. After rising to fame in the J-League, Doan decided to move to Europe to face new challenges. He joined PSV Eindhoven, a top Dutch team, and quickly made his mark at the club.
PSV Eindhoven has rated Ritsu Doan at €6.5m, demonstrating confidence in the youngster's potential. With his speed, technique, and creativity, Doan has played an important role at PSV, delivering breakthroughs and sharp attacking abilities, contributing to the club's success in both domestic and continental competitions.
Ritsu Doan's success in Europe has made him a symbol of the development of Japanese football and a great inspiration for young talents around the world, especially in Asia. His career is a clear example of the strength and potential of young Japanese players, transcending national borders to face new challenges and demonstrate their abilities.
5. Junya Ito
Ito started his career in school football and then, at the age of 22, played professionally with Ventforet Kofu before moving to Kashiwa Reysol in the Japanese J-League. In 2019, Belgian club Genk loaned him out and subsequently decided to sign him permanently after an impressive season. With his versatile attacking midfielder play and excellent individual skills, Ito quickly adapted and became an integral part of Genk's squad.
Currently, Ito's value is estimated at 8 million euros, demonstrating his maturity and impressive success at Genk. Ito's progress is a prime example of how young Japanese players can dare to step beyond national borders to take on new challenges and enhance their value in the world of top football.
6. Takefusa Kubo
Takefusa Kubo is a promising young player from the former Barcelona's La Masia academy. However, due to legal reasons, Kubo left Barcelona. Real Madrid quickly recognized his talent when he was playing for FC Tokyo in Japan and brought him into the club's youth team.
Although Kubo regularly trains with Real Madrid's first team, he has yet to secure a permanent place at the Bernabeu. Currently, Kubo is playing for Mallorca on loan, showcasing his skills as an attacking midfielder. Here, he has the opportunity to show his abilities in a professional environment.
With his development and creativity on the field, Kubo is valued at around 10 million euros, demonstrating his potential and value as a young player. Kubo's time in Mallorca was a positive step toward gaining experience and advancing in his football career. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is still monitoring to see if Kubo can become an integral part of their first-team squad in the future.
7. Wataru Endo
Endo is one of the Japanese players who chose the European route through his move to Belgian club Sint-Truidense, which has been a pathway for Japanese footballers. He was subsequently loaned to Stuttgart before signing a permanent contract with the club. Since joining Stuttgart, Endo has played 70 matches, scoring 5 goals and providing 7 assists. This demonstrates his stability and significant contribution to the team's performance. Currently, Endo's value is estimated at around 10 million euros, a testament to his maturity and prominence as a central midfielder in European football.
Endo was one of the few Japanese players to successfully make the move to Europe, and his career was an inspiration to other young talents from the country. Endo's high valuation is also a recognition of his ability in top football environments around the world.
8. Takumi Minamino
Minamino put in an impressive performance at Red Bull Salzburg, one of Austria's top teams, prompting Liverpool to spend nearly €10m to bring him to Anfield. At Liverpool, Minamino continued to demonstrate his abilities and became a notable star of Japanese football.
Although not the player with the highest transfer value, Minamino is still one of the standout players in Japanese football. Currently, he is valued at approximately 12 million euros, showing maturity and excellence at the highest level of world football.
Minamino is a clear testament to the success of Japanese players when transitioning to Europe's top leagues. His career has been an inspiration to other young talents in the country, proving that Asian players can achieve success in Western football.
9. Daichi Kamada
Kamada is an attacking midfielder who is considered the successor to his comrade Shinji Kagawa, with the ability to seize opportunities and create important chances for teammates. During his time in Frankfurt, Kamada played 120 matches, scoring 22 goals and providing 26 assists. These are impressive numbers for an attacking midfielder, demonstrating Kamada's versatility and exceptional attacking skills.
Currently, Kamada is valued at around 22 million euros, which reflects his value and potential in the transfer market. Comparing him to Shinji Kagawa also highlights that Kamada is one of the top talents in Japanese football. He is expected to continue to develop and succeed in his career in Europe.
10. Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu quickly made his mark at Arsenal after joining the club, quickly winning the Player of the Month award. With his ability to play as a full-back and central defender, he was once rated as one of Serie A's top defenders.
Tomiyasu has proven his versatility and quality in various positions in Arsenal's defense. He has quickly adapted to the Premier League's pace and physical demands and has become an integral part of the squad under manager Mikel Arteta. With his consistency and relentless effort, Tomiyasu has provided stability and versatility to Arsenal's defense.
Despite facing injuries at the start of 2022, Tomiyasu continued to perform impressively on the field. His value in the transfer market has increased significantly to €25 million, more than €3 million above the start of the 2021/2022 season. This represents recognition by the football community of Tomiyasu's skills and potential.
Despite the injuries, Tomiyasu remains one of the promising young talents who has had a significant impact on football. His increase in value is just one of many signs that he is well-deserved in his career and one of the potential leaders of Japanese football on the European stage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Japan has produced a remarkable pool of talented football players who have made significant strides in both domestic and international football. From the early days of pioneers like Hidetoshi Nakata to the current stars playing in top leagues across Europe, Japan's football legacy continues to grow. While it is difficult to pinpoint a single player as the best Japan football player, names like Takumi Minamino, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Takefusa Kubo have undoubtedly earned their place among the nation's footballing elite. With their skill, determination, and achievements, these players inspire future generations of Japanese footballers, making Japan a strong contender on the world football stage.
