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Most Improved defenders in J1 League 2027

The most improved defenders in J1 League in 2027, ranked on Field Insider.

Most improved goalkeepers in J1 LeagueMost improved midfielders in J1 LeagueMost improved attackers in J1 LeagueBest defenders in J1 LeagueMost in-form defenders in J1 LeagueTop-scoring defenders in J1 League

At a glance

R. Handa of Gamba Osaka is the standout for raw talent across defenders in J1 League, with a Field Insider Rating of 56.5, and R. Kikuchi leads the scoring with 2 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: J. Sumiyoshi has improved his Season rating most, up +29.2 on last season, while Kim Tae-Hyeon's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +3.7 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, R. Handa of Gamba Osaka is the most valuable name in this group at 20.7.

Best talent
R. Handa56.5RTG
Gamba Osaka
In form
R. Handa45.5SsN
Gamba Osaka
Rising potential
Kim Tae-Hyeon+3.7RTG
Kashima · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
J. Sumiyoshi+29.2SsN
Shimizu S-pulse · 23/24→25/26
Top scorer
R. Kikuchi2goals
Machida Zelvia
Most valuable
R. Handa20.7val
Gamba Osaka
24 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1J. SumiyoshiCentre-backShimizu S-pulse28+29.2
23/24→25/26
38331.8%3914.4%
2D. TagamiCentre-backFagiano Okayama33+27.1
23/24→25/26
35330.5%215.9%
3T. ShichiCentre-backSanfrecce Hiroshima32+25.5
24/25→25/26
29750%257.6%
4R. HandaFull-backGamba Osaka24+18.1
24/25→25/26
4666.1%577%
5Y. MaruyamaCentre-backKawasaki Frontale37+14.9
24/25→25/26
20304.1%1122.2%
6Kim Tae-HyeonCentre-backKashima25+13.8
24/25→25/26
3178.4%527.6%
7T. DengCentre-backYokohama F. Marinos29+5.7
24/25→25/26
2627.5%3123.9%
8T. KamijimaCentre-backAvispa Fukuoka29+5.4
24/25→25/26
2824.2%3225.1%
9D. SuzukiCentre-backJEF United Chiba36+5.1
20/21→25/26
1278.5%1054%
10Y. NagatomoFull-backFC Tokyo39+4.9
24/25→25/26
2131%1014.9%
11R. KikuchiCentre-backMachida Zelvia29+4.7
24/25→25/26
1358%2922.8%
12K. TakahataCentre-backV-varen Nagasaki25+3.4
24/25→25/26
7106.2%3717.6%
13T. OkaCentre-backFC Tokyo24+1.2
24/25→25/26
15±0%47±0%
14K. InoueFull-backShimizu S-pulse28+1
24/25→25/26
138.3%3516.7%
15K. MatsubaraCentre-backYokohama F. Marinos33+0.2
24/25→25/26
191.1%1641.4%
16M. YuzawaFull-backAvispa Fukuoka32-2.7
24/25→25/26
1316.9%1730%
17S. FukuokaCentre-backGamba Osaka30-7.6
24/25→25/26
3219%3321.7%
18Kim Min-TaeCentre-backMachida Zelvia32-8.1
24/25→25/26
1732.1%2616%
19M. YamaneFull-backUrawa32-8.9
24/25→25/26
2222.5%173.1%
20Kim Ju-SungCentre-backSanfrecce Hiroshima25-11.8
24/25→25/26
1446.3%472.3%
21K. AnzaiFull-backKashima31-13.8
24/25→25/26
2733.5%2634.8%
22K. ChidaCentre-backTokyo Verdy31-17.5
24/25→25/26
1258.5%1846.3%
23M. TashiroCentre-backAvispa Fukuoka33-18.1
24/25→25/26
2839%1743.1%
24Y. TakahashiCentre-backShimizu S-pulse33-26.6
22/23→25/26
1465.4%1461.8%