Hidehiro Sugai

Following his move to Shimizu S-pulse, Sugai's current-season form is down 59% on last season (Season 32→13), while his Rating eased 47→45. His peak season for form remains 2025/26 (Season 32).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2027/28	Shimizu S-pulse · 10th	10	1	0	6.59	45	13
2026/27	Kyoto Sanga	18	0	1	6.37	—	—
2025/26	Kyoto Sanga · 3rd	37	2	4	6.84	47	32
2024/25	Kashima · 5th	13	0	0	6.36	42	4
2023/24	Kashima · 5th	17	0	0	6.58	46	13
2023/24	Ventforet Kofu	26	3	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 3 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

H. Sugai is a 27-year-old central defender at Shimizu S-pulse, rated 39.8 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 39th of 193 on scout potential in the J1 League. In his prime years, he has been a rotation option this season (52.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.02 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Sugai.

Judged on this season alone, Sugai graded 13 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 25th of 37 of the 37 centre-backs in the J1 League, on 2 clean sheets and 2.016 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 32 → 13). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2025/26.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 40, top 22% of the 37 centre-backs in the J1 League. At 27 Sugai is in his prime years, and a market index of 10.9 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2025/26 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26

Current potential8th of 37 centre-backs · J1 League · 10 apps Current season25th of 37 centre-backs · J1 League · 10 apps 25th-best centre-back in the J1 League 39th in the J1 League · potential 8th-highest potential centre-back in the J1 League

39.8

Ratingi

8th of 37 centre-backs

12.8

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

52.2%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.02

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Shimizu S-pulse finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

2.02

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.02 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 10 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Watch points

Game time. Only 52.2% 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 39.8, Sugai carries the 8th-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 (2.02 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %52.2%

Available fixtures10 of 10

Goals / 900.101

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.101

Defensive actions / 902.016

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Shot conversion %50

Shot accuracy %100

Pass accuracy %67

Dribble success %14.3

Cards / 900.202

Foul involvement / 902.721

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 (~11), then tapers with age. At 27, Sugai sits on 10.9, at or near its peak. The blue line is Sugai's projected Rating — 39.8 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

Goals1

Shots on target2

Shots2

Passing

Assists0

Chances created11

Passes262

Pass accuracy67%

Possession

Successful dribbles1

Dribble success14.3%

Duels won41

Duels won %50%

Fouls won14

Defending

Tackles13

Interceptions7

Fouls committed13

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

Shimizu S-pulseJun 2026 – now

Kyoto SangaJan 2025 – Jun 2026

KashimaJul 2023 – Jan 2025Free

Ventforet Kofuuntil Jul 2023

About H. Sugai

Hidehiro Sugai is a 27-year-old centre-back who plays for Shimizu S-pulse, born on October 27, 1998 in Yamanashi, standing 172 cm tall. He is from Japan. Shimizu S-pulse currently sit 10th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, H. Sugai has made 10 appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists across 893 minutes, with 2 yellow cards.

H. Sugai's next match is on October 31, 2026, when Shimizu S-pulse face Kyoto Sanga away in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates H. Sugai at 39.8 with a Season form score of 12.8, ranking 39th 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 2 career titles — among them the Emperor Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 8 recorded seasons, H. Sugai has totalled 182 club appearances with 12 goals and 5 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 41 appearances for Ventforet Kofu.

H. Sugai's career has also included time at Kyoto Sanga, Kashima and Ventforet Kofu.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Shimizu S-pulse finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Watch points