Best defensive U21 players from Japan

The best defensive U21 players from Japan, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

K. Kita of Real Sociedad II is the standout for raw talent across U21 players from Japan, with a Field Insider Rating of 65.1, and K. Goto has been the form player this season, grading 46.2.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: K. Kosugi has improved his Season rating most, up +29.1 on last season, while K. Goto's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +17.8 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, K. Takai of Borussia Mönchengladbach is the most valuable name in this group at 103.1.

St. Truiden · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

K. Kosugi+29.1SsN

Djurgardens IF · 24/25→25/26

Borussia Mönchengladbach

44 players · ranked by most clean sheetsCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	CS	Season	Rating
1	K. Kosugi Full-back	Djurgardens IF	20	9	43206.4%	4218.6%
2	K. Goto Centre-forward	St. Truiden	21	8	4686.3%	6339.2%
3	K. Kita Centre-back	Real Sociedad II	20	6	29	65
4	K. Doi Centre-back	FC Tokyo	21	6	2141.1%	510.8%
5	S. Tanaka Centre-forward	Matsumoto Yamaga	21	5	26	52
6	K. Konomi Centre-back	Kitakyushu	19	4	13	50
7	Y. Nakajima Attacking midfielder	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	20	4	0100%	491.2%
8	S. Kitano Attacking midfielder	Red Bull Salzburg	21	3	31309.2%	491.8%
9	R. Ichihara Centre-back	Omiya Ardija	21	3	7	50
10	S. Saito Central midfielder	KVC Westerlo	21	3	11	50
11	Y. Fujii Centre-back	Kamatamare Sanuki	20	3	9	49
12	S. Nagano Centre-back	Gainare Tottori	20	3	12	49
13	A. Pisano Goalkeeper	Nagoya Grampus	20	3	7	51
14	Niko Takahashi Cendagorta Centre-back	Cerezo Osaka	20	2	13	50
15	K. Takai Centre-back	Borussia Mönchengladbach	21	2	2259%	6929.9%
16	Y. Kunitake Attacking midfielder	Nara Club	20	2	12	52
17	E. Gyotoku Centre-back	Parceiro Nagano	21	2	8	46
18	Y. Matsunagane Full-back	Fukushima United	21	2	6215.8%	487.1%
19	T. Suenaga Centre-forward	Renofa Yamaguchi	20	2	10	47
20	N. Ishiwatari Central midfielder	Iwaki	21	2	4600%	496.4%
21	R. Umeki Centre-back	Imabari	20	2	5	47
22	R. Ando Centre-forward	Tegevajaro Miyazaki	19	1	0	46
23	H. Nakano Centre-forward	Azul Claro Numazu	18	1	0	43
24	R. Ageishi Central midfielder	Tochigi SC	20	1	1	46
25	R. Tsubogo Centre-forward	Kitakyushu	21	1	0	45
26	A. Ishiyama Central midfielder	Matsumoto Yamaga	20	1	21000%	443.3%
27	S. Take Attacking midfielder	Kagoshima United	21	1	6	50
28	Y. Uchida Centre-forward	Kochi United	21	1	6	46
29	Y. Koki Defensive midfielder	FC Ryukyu	21	1	3	43
30	N. Kumata Centre-forward	Iwaki	21	1	410.2%	4816.1%
31	S. Sasa Central midfielder	Imabari	19	1	0	46
32	S. Shinkawa Central midfielder	Sagan Tosu	18	1	0	47
33	D. Suzuki Centre-forward	Sagan Tosu	19	1	0100%	452%
34	K. Yasuda Central midfielder	KRC Genk II	21	1	8110.3%	403.4%
35	Y. Yoshinaga Centre-back	KRC Genk II	20	1	338%	3815.5%
36	M. Nishihara Central midfielder	Shimizu S-pulse	19	1	2	45
37	H. Ishii Winger	Shonan Bellmare	21	1	330.6%	446.5%
38	S. Hiraga Winger	Kyoto Sanga	21	1	322%	494.3%
39	S. Mori Defensive midfielder	Nagoya Grampus	19	1	17	52
40	Y. Ozeki Attacking midfielder	Kawasaki Frontale	21	1	10	51
41	M. Kitahara Centre-forward	FC Tokyo	17	1	0	45
42	K. Hamasaki Central midfielder	Vissel Kobe	19	1	1	47
43	H. Tokuda Centre-forward	Kashima	19	1	596%	545.7%
44	R. Shirai Winger	Tokyo Verdy	21	1	0	42