Dion-Johan Cools

Cools's current-season form is level with last season (Season 8→8), while his Rating held around 24. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 38).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2027/28	Cerezo Osaka · 10th	4	0	0	6.78	24	8
2026/27	Cerezo Osaka	19	0	1	6.96	—	—
2025/26	Cerezo Osaka · 10th	14	2	1	7.01	24	8
2024/25	Buriram United	27	2	3	7.37	—	—
2023/24	Buriram United	28	2	1	7.48	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 9 earlier seasons in the full career.

Malaysia · international

Side	Apps	G
Malaysia	27	6

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

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

Dion-Johan Cools is a 30-year-old central defender at Cerezo Osaka, rated 24.6 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a fringe squad member this season (27% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Cools.

On the season, Cools graded 8 for current form (age-blind), on 1 clean sheet and 3.998 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 8 → 8). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 25. At 30 Cools is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 3.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2020/21 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2020/21Trending down

24.6

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

7.9

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

27%

Minutes

limited game time

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Cerezo Osaka finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

4 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 14 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.29 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.
Defensive volume. 4 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 27% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 24.6 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1× now → 0.7× projected in three years).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %27%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.195

Assists / 900.098

Goal contribution / 900.293

Defensive actions / 903.998

Player flow

Goal involvements3

Cards / 900.098

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 (~7), then tapers with age. At 30, Cools sits on 3.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Cools's projected Rating — 24.6 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-backs in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles26

Interceptions10

Blocks5

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Cerezo OsakaJun 2025 – now

BBuriram UnitedJan 2023 – Jun 2025Free

FK Jablonecuntil Jan 2023

FC Midtjylland(back from loan)Jul 2022 – Jan 2023

Zulte Waregem(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jul 2022

FC MidtjyllandFeb 2020 – Jan 2022

Club Brugge KVJul 2015 – Feb 2020

OH Leuvenuntil Jul 2015

About Dion-Johan Cools

Dion-Johan Chai Cools is a 30-year-old centre-back who plays for Cerezo Osaka, born on June 4, 1996 in Kuching, standing 185 cm tall. He is from Malaysia. Cerezo Osaka currently sit 10th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, Dion-Johan Cools has made 4 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 370 minutes.

Dion-Johan Cools's next match is on September 2, 2026, when Cerezo Osaka face Kashiwa Reysol at home in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Dion-Johan Cools at 24.6 with a Season form score of 7.9. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 20 career titles — among them the ASEAN Club Championship and the FA Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 14 recorded seasons, Dion-Johan Cools has totalled 270 club appearances with 14 goals and 9 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2017/18, with 35 appearances for Club Brugge KV.

Dion-Johan Cools's career has also included time at BBuriram United, FK Jablonec, FC Midtjylland, Zulte Waregem, Club Brugge KV and OH Leuven.

On the international stage, Dion-Johan Cools has represented Malaysia — 27 caps and 6 goals in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.