A. Esaka

Following his move to Fagiano Okayama, Esaka's current-season form is up 89% on last season (Season 18→34), while his Rating held around 20. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 52).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Fagiano Okayama	20	3	3	7.01	—	—
2025/26	Fagiano Okayama · 13th	38	6	5	7.11	20	34
2024/25	Ulsan Hyundai FC · 1st	29	5	0	7.02	20	18
2023/24	Ulsan Hyundai FC · 3rd	9	1	1	6.7	18	6
2022/23	Urawa · 9th	30	2	1	6.93	29	21

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 earlier seasons in the full career.

Japan · international

Side	Apps	G
Japan	1	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentre-forward

A. Esaka is a 34-year-old centre-forward at Fagiano Okayama, enjoying a standout season — 6 goals and 5 assists in 38 appearances, a Season grade of 34, top 17% of J1 League centre-forwards. On long-term scout potential he's rated 19.9, ranking 298th of 377 in the J1 League. A seasoned veteran, he has been an ever-present (85.1% of available minutes). He brings 0.34 goal contributions per 90 (0.19 goals, 0.16 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Esaka.

Judged on this season alone, Esaka graded 34 — a strong campaign that ranks top 17% of the 42 centre-forwards in the J1 League, on 6 goals and 5 assists in 38 appearances (0.34 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 18 → 34). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 20, 31st of 42 of the 42 centre-forwards in the J1 League. At 34 Esaka is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.7 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2020/21 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2020/21Trending upBreakout: 2025/264 clubs

Current potential31st of 42 centre-forwards · J1 League Current seasonTop 17% centre-forwards · J1 League7th-best centre-forward in the J1 League298th in the J1 League · potential31st-highest potential centre-forward in the J1 League

19.9

Ratingi

31st of 42 centre-forwards

34.2

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

85.1%

Minutes

near ever-present

0.34

Goal contrib / 90

modest end product

Output in context · Fagiano Okayama finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.16

Goals / app

6 goals in 38 appearances (0.16 per game) for a mid-table side. He also laid on 5 assists, so the all-round involvement reads 11 goal contributions (0.29 per appearance).

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 85.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Age curve. At 34, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 19.9, Esaka carries the 31st-highest potential of the centre-forwards in the J1 League of 42. In the final third he profiles as a work-in-progress on end product (0.34 goal contributions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.6× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %85.1%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.186

Assists / 900.155

Goal contribution / 900.34

Defensive actions / 901.609

Player flow

Goal involvements11

Shot conversion %33.3

Shot accuracy %51.4

Dribble success %43.6

Cards / 900.031

Foul involvement / 901.392

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~9), then tapers with age. At 34, Esaka sits on 2.7, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Esaka's projected Rating — 19.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-forwards in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals6

Shots on target18

Shots35

Passing

Assists5

Possession

Successful dribbles17

Dribble success43.6%

Fouls won27

Defending

Tackles35

Interceptions14

Blocks3

Fouls committed18

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Fagiano Okayama2024/25 – now

Ulsan Hyundai FC2022/23 – 2024/25

Urawa2021/22 – 2022/23

Kashiwa Reysol2017/18 – 2021/22Free

Omiya Ardija2015/16 – 2017/18

Thespakusatsu Gunmauntil 2015/16

About A. Esaka

Ataru Esaka is a 34-year-old centre-forward who plays for Fagiano Okayama, born on May 31, 1992 in Sanda, standing 175 cm tall. He is from Japan. Fagiano Okayama currently sit 13th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, A. Esaka has made 38 appearances with 6 goals and 5 assists across 2,909 minutes, averaging a 7.11 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 1 yellow card. His season has spanned the J1 League and the J-League Cup. Though primarily a centre-forward, he has also lined up in midfield this season.

When A. Esaka plays, Fagiano Okayama's record this season is 12W-9D-17L — and his match ratings average 7.14 at home against 7.09 on the road.

Recent matches

December 6, 2025: 2-1 win away at Shimizu S-pulse (90 minutes, 1 goal, 8.3 rating)
November 30, 2025: 0-1 loss at home vs Urawa (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
November 8, 2025: 1-1 draw away at Kawasaki Frontale (77 minutes, 7.3 rating)
October 25, 2025: 1-3 loss away at FC Tokyo (89 minutes, 1 goal, 7.5 rating)
October 18, 2025: 1-2 loss at home vs Cerezo Osaka (76 minutes, 6.9 rating)
October 4, 2025: 1-1 draw away at Albirex Niigata (89 minutes, 6.7 rating)
September 27, 2025: 0-1 loss away at Machida Zelvia (78 minutes, 7.3 rating)
September 23, 2025: 0-0 draw at home vs Yokohama FC (32 minutes, 6.3 rating)
September 20, 2025: 2-4 loss away at Tokyo Verdy (63 minutes, 1 goal, 7.5 rating)
September 13, 2025: 0-1 loss at home vs Nagoya Grampus (73 minutes, 6.6 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates A. Esaka at 19.9 with a Season form score of 34.2, ranking 298th of 377 centre-forwards in the J1 League. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 9 career titles — among them the K League 1 and the Super Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, A. Esaka has totalled 384 club appearances with 86 goals and 32 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2015/16, with 42 appearances for Thespakusatsu Gunma.

A. Esaka's career has also included time at Ulsan Hyundai FC, Urawa, Kashiwa Reysol, Omiya Ardija and Thespakusatsu Gunma.

On the international stage, A. Esaka has represented Japan — 1 cap in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Fagiano Okayama finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points