Most Valuable defensive midfielders by Market Value in J1 League

The most valuable defensive midfielders in J1 League, ranked on Field Insider.

Most valuable goalkeepers in J1 League Most valuable defenders in J1 League Most valuable midfielders in J1 League Most valuable attackers in J1 League Best defensive midfielders in J1 League Most in-form defensive midfielders in J1 League

At a glance

S. Tanaka of Sanfrecce Hiroshima is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in J1 League, with a Field Insider Rating of 53.8, and T. Ohgihara has been the form player this season, grading 45.3, and S. Tanaka leads the scoring with 3 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: K. Okuno has improved his Season rating most, up +22.4 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, S. Tanaka of Sanfrecce Hiroshima is the most valuable name in this group at 14.7.

Shonan Bellmare · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

K. Okuno+22.4SsN

Shonan Bellmare · 24/25→25/26

36 players · ranked by highest valueCustomise →

	Player	Team
1	S. Tanaka Defensive midfielder	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	23	14.7	3141.4%	544.9%
2	Y. Yamada Defensive midfielder	Kashiwa Reysol	26	14.6	3259.2%	462.7%
3	K. Kumasaka Defensive midfielder	Kashiwa Reysol	25	13.4	16460.7%	4920.8%
4	K. Okuno Defensive midfielder	Shonan Bellmare	26	13.4	29320%	420.9%
5	K. Aziangbe Defensive midfielder	Yokohama F. Marinos	22	12.2	141477.8%	476.3%
6	R. Hirakawa Defensive midfielder	Tokyo Verdy	26	12.2	1943.2%	451.8%
7	M. Yumiba Defensive midfielder	Shimizu S-pulse	24	12	8	44
8	M. Hidaka Defensive midfielder	Vissel Kobe	23	12	1	443.7%
9	H. Ogura Defensive midfielder	Yokohama FC	25	12	16	44
10	João Pedro Defensive midfielder	Kyoto Sanga	26	11.8	18	43
11	H. Kida Defensive midfielder	Cerezo Osaka	26	11.7	18315.9%	431.2%
12	T. Ko Defensive midfielder	FC Tokyo	28	11.4	434.9%	4215.4%
13	G. Kato Defensive midfielder	Nagoya Grampus	23	11.4	2	42
14	T. Myogan Defensive midfielder	Kawasaki Frontale	22	11.1	0	43
15	S. Kawahara Defensive midfielder	Kawasaki Frontale	28	9.9	36112.4%	4011.2%
16	S. Ishibashi Defensive midfielder	Shonan Bellmare	20	9.8	2	42
17	M. Saito Defensive midfielder	Kyoto Sanga	27	9.2	292.5%	3435.9%
18	T. Inami Defensive midfielder	Tokyo Verdy	27	8.9	468.2%	3230.2%
19	Y. Ideguchi Defensive midfielder	Vissel Kobe	29	8.6	3480.5%	3614.3%
20	R. Ochiai Defensive midfielder	Albirex Niigata	27	8.2	0	3023%
21	S. Tanaka Defensive midfielder	Cerezo Osaka	29	8	3225.6%	3524.3%
22	N. Lavi Defensive midfielder	Gamba Osaka	29	6.6	26297%	3213.1%
23	H. Mae Defensive midfielder	Machida Zelvia	31	6	313.4%	2920.7%
24	E. Miyamoto Defensive midfielder	Fagiano Okayama	28	5.7	1813.1%	3523.3%
25	K. Tachibanada Defensive midfielder	Kawasaki Frontale	28	5.6	1855.9%	3430.5%
26	T. Arai Defensive midfielder	Albirex Niigata	29	4.8	19	29
27	K. Misao Defensive midfielder	Kashima	30	4	182.9%	2913.8%
28	K. Hashimoto Defensive midfielder	FC Tokyo	32	3.9	25850%	2216%
29	M. Ono Defensive midfielder	Nagoya Grampus	29	3.6	291.7%	2424.5%
30	K. Shibato Defensive midfielder	Urawa	30	2.9	383.5%	2140.8%
31	T. Ohgihara Defensive midfielder	Vissel Kobe	34	2.8	4520.5%	2025.5%
32	K. Tsukagawa Defensive midfielder	FC Tokyo	32	1.4	0	1333.5%
33	R. Shirasaki Defensive midfielder	Machida Zelvia	33	1.2	566.2%	1245.5%
34	G. Shibasaki Defensive midfielder	Kashima	34	1.1	853.1%	1243.1%
35	Marcos Júnior Defensive midfielder	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	33	0.9	094.9%	954.9%
36	R. Yamanaka Defensive midfielder	Nagoya Grampus	33	0.8	194.9%	956%