Dion-Johan Cools

Cools's current-season form is up 288% on last season (Season 8→31), 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 · 13th	10	0	0	6.71	24	31
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, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 0 assists in 10 appearances, a Season grade of 31, top 30% of J1 League centre-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 27.6, ranking 157th of 193 in the J1 League. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option (53.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.36 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Cools.

Judged on this season alone, Cools graded 31 — a strong campaign that ranks top 30% of the 37 centre-backs in the J1 League, on 4 clean sheets and 3.363 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 8 → 31). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 28, 27th of 37 of the 37 centre-backs in the J1 League. At 30 Cools is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 6.3 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: 2027/28

Current potential27th of 37 centre-backs · J1 League · 10 apps Current season11th of 37 centre-backs · J1 League · 10 apps 11th-best centre-back in the J1 League 157th in the J1 League · potential 27th-highest potential centre-back in the J1 League

27.6

Ratingi

27th of 37 centre-backs

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

53.2%

Minutes

rotation minutes

3.36

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Cerezo Osaka finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.36

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.36 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 10 appearances.

Watch points

Game time. Only 53.2% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 27.6, Cools carries the 27th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the J1 League of 37 — though on just 10 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.36 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 %53.2%

Available fixtures10 of 10

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 903.363

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Pass accuracy %79

Dribble success %66.7

Cards / 900.099

Foul involvement / 902.077

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 (~13), then tapers with age. At 30, Cools sits on 6.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Cools's projected Rating — 27.6 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

Goals0

Shots3

Passing

Assists0

Chances created9

Passes551

Pass accuracy79%

Possession

Successful dribbles6

Dribble success66.7%

Duels won55

Duels won %51.9%

Fouls won7

Defending

Tackles15

Interceptions15

Blocks4

Fouls committed14

Penalties conceded1—

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Cerezo OsakaJun 2025 – now

BBuriram Uniteduntil Jun 2025

FC Midtjylland(back from loan)Jul 2022 – Jun 2025

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 13th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, Dion-Johan Cools has made 10 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 910 minutes, with 1 yellow card.

Dion-Johan Cools's next match is on November 8, 2026, when Cerezo Osaka face Gamba Osaka away in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Dion-Johan Cools at 27.6 with a Season form score of 31, ranking 157th of 193 centre-backs in the J1 League. 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 276 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, 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.

Profile

Season stats

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Cerezo Osaka finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

Watch points