Hidehiro Sugai

Following his move to Shimizu S-pulse, Sugai's current-season form is level with last season (Season 32→32), 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 · 13th	7	0	0	6.57	45	32
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

Solid contributorCentral defender

H. Sugai is a 27-year-old central defender at Kyoto Sanga, rated 46.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 21st of 113 on scout potential in the J1 League. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (78.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.27 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 32 — a strong campaign that ranks top 29% of the 21 centre-backs in the J1 League, on 8 clean sheets and 3.27 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 32 → 32). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2025/26.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 46, top 24% of the 21 centre-backs in the J1 League. At 27 Sugai is in his prime years, and a market index of 14.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Sugai is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26

Current potentialTop 24% centre-backs · J1 League Current seasonTop 29% centre-backs · J1 League 6th-best centre-back in the J1 League 21st in the J1 League · potential 5th-highest potential centre-back in the J1 League

46.3

Ratingi

5th of 21 centre-backs

32.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

78.1%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.27

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Kyoto Sanga finished 3rd of 20 · an upper-table side

Apps

3.27

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.27 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 37 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (3rd of 20) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 4 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 78.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.2 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 46.3, Sugai carries the 5th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the J1 League (top 24%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.27 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 %78.1%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.067

Assists / 900.135

Goal contribution / 900.202

Defensive actions / 903.27

Player flow

Goal involvements6

Cards / 900.101

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 (~15), then tapers with age. At 27, Sugai sits on 14.6, at or near its peak. The blue line is Sugai's projected Rating — 46.3 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

Assists4

Defending

Tackles73

Interceptions14

Blocks10

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3

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 13th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, H. Sugai has made 7 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 623 minutes.

H. Sugai's next match is on September 19, 2026, when Shimizu S-pulse face JEF United Chiba at home in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates H. Sugai at 46.3 with a Season form score of 32.1, ranking 21st of 113 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 179 club appearances with 11 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 · Kyoto Sanga finished 3rd of 20 · an upper-table side

Strengths

Watch points