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Most Improved defenders in J2 League 2026

The most improved defenders in J2 League in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Most improved goalkeepers in J2 LeagueMost improved midfielders in J2 LeagueMost improved attackers in J2 LeagueBest defenders in J2 LeagueMost in-form defenders in J2 LeagueTop-scoring defenders in J2 League

At a glance

H. Tanaka of Tokushima Vortis is the standout for raw talent across defenders in J2 League, with a Field Insider Rating of 55.7, and T. Shirai has been the form player this season, grading 66.2, and M. Jonjić leads the scoring with 3 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: M. Ito has improved his Season rating most, up +29.2 on last season, while S. Matsumura's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +1 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, H. Tanaka of Tokushima Vortis is the most valuable name in this group at 11.5.

Best talent
H. Tanaka55.7RTG
Tokushima Vortis
In form
T. Shirai66.2SsN
Vanraure Hachinohe
Rising potential
S. Matsumura+1RTG
Shonan Bellmare · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
M. Ito+29.2SsN
Yokohama FC · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
M. Jonjić3goals
Tochigi City
Most valuable
H. Tanaka11.5val
Tokushima Vortis
27 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1M. ItoCentre-backYokohama FC34+29.2
24/25→25/26
40270.4%1714.8%
2K. YamakoshiCentre-backTokushima Vortis33+27.4
24/25→25/26
32668.3%1234.1%
3A. FukumoriFull-backConsadole Sapporo33+25.8
23/24→25/26
43152.7%1738.1%
4K. YamazakiCentre-backJubilo Iwata30+22.7
24/25→25/26
4988%3310.7%
5K. TachiCentre-backShonan Bellmare28+22.3
24/25→25/26
232477.8%329.8%
6R. OkuiCentre-backTochigi City36+20
21/22→25/26
31186.9%766%
7M. JonjićCentre-backTochigi City35+15.9
24/25→25/26
3777.2%857%
8S. MatsumuraCentre-backShonan Bellmare22+14.6
24/25→25/26
16912.5%442.3%
9Y. HorigomeCentre-backConsadole Sapporo32+12.7
24/25→25/26
25101.6%2224.4%
10Y. TakagiCentre-backTokushima Vortis28+12.6
21/22→25/26
2695.5%2744.6%
11Danilo CardosoCentre-backJubilo Iwata29+8.9
22/23→25/26
13217.1%2653.7%
12Matheus PereiraCentre-backOita Trinita29+7.1
21/22→25/26
14102.9%2147.6%
13Y. HakamataCentre-backShonan Bellmare30+7
24/25→25/26
12148.9%2325.5%
14K. OhnoCentre-backShonan Bellmare37+4.5
24/25→25/26
1544.1%647.5%
15H. TeruyamaCentre-backTochigi City26+4.4
21/22→25/26
8115.8%3815.2%
16R. EndoCentre-backIwaki28+3.7
24/25→25/26
886%2731.1%
17F. HayakawaCentre-backAlbirex Niigata32+3.2
24/25→25/26
1140%1635%
18T. AbeCentre-backMontedio Yamagata29+3
21/22→25/26
778.9%2343.4%
19K. IwatakeCentre-backYokohama FC300
23/24→25/26
24±0%2345%
20K. MatsubaraCentre-backJubilo Iwata30-2.7
24/25→25/26
1317.5%2348.3%
21R. TakaoCentre-backConsadole Sapporo29-3.7
24/25→25/26
734.6%2339.8%
22Y. KoideCentre-backVentforet Kofu32-7.2
21/22→25/26
1533%1563.9%
23M. FitzgeraldCentre-backAlbirex Niigata38-7.6
24/25→25/26
1829.9%1331.6%
24R. NishioCentre-backOmiya Ardija25-9.2
24/25→25/26
1834.3%523%
25Y. SuzukiCentre-backShonan Bellmare32-11
24/25→25/26
2827.9%2426.9%
26K. FunakiCentre-backAlbirex Niigata28-11.1
24/25→25/26
1542.4%3722.9%
27T. NakamuraCentre-backConsadole Sapporo26-15.5
24/25→25/26
383.3%3232.6%