Masaru Kato

Following his move to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Kato's current-season form is up 0% on last season (Season 0→41), while his Rating climbed 7→20. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2027/28	Sanfrecce Hiroshima · 4th	2	1	1	6.6	20	41
2026/27	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	1	4	2	6.79	—	—
2025/26	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	0	0	0	6.4	—	—
2025/26	V-varen Nagasaki · 2nd	8	0	0	—	7	0
2024/25	V-varen Nagasaki	28	4	0	—	—	—
2023/24	V-varen Nagasaki	22	2	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 13 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral midfielder

M. Kato is a 35-year-old central midfielder at V-varen Nagasaki, rated 10.3 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (25.8% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Kato.

On the season, Kato graded 0 for current form (age-blind), on 0 goals, 0 assists and 0 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 0 → 41).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 10. At 35 Kato is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.8 reflects that trajectory.

10.3

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

25.8%

Minutes

limited game time

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · V-varen Nagasaki finished 15th of 20 · a lower-table side

Apps

Def. / 90

—

Tackles

—

Interceptions

Clean sheets

0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 8 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (15th of 20) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight.

Watch points

Game time. Only 25.8% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 35, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 10.3 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (0 tackles, blocks & interceptions 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 %25.8%

Available fixtures8 of 10

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 900

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Cards / 900

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 (~3), then tapers with age. At 35, Kato sits on 0.8, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Kato's projected Rating — 10.3 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 central midfielders in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists0

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

V-varen NagasakiJan 2020 – nowFree

Avispa Fukuoka(on loan)Jul 2019 – Jan 2020

Albirex Niigata(back from loan)Feb 2014 – Jul 2019

Ehime FC(on loan)Mar 2012 – Feb 2014

Albirex Niigatauntil Mar 2012

About M. Kato

Masaru Kato is a 35-year-old central midfielder who plays for V-varen Nagasaki, born on May 7, 1991 in Fukuoka, standing 175 cm tall. He is from Japan. V-varen Nagasaki currently sit 15th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, M. Kato has made 8 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 441 minutes.

M. Kato's next match is on November 7, 2026, when V-varen Nagasaki face Avispa Fukuoka away in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Kato at 10.3 with a Season form score of 0. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 18 recorded seasons, M. Kato has totalled 385 club appearances with 29 goals and 5 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2013/14, with 42 appearances for Ehime FC.

M. Kato's career has also included time at Avispa Fukuoka, Albirex Niigata and Ehime FC.

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 · V-varen Nagasaki finished 15th of 20 · a lower-table side

Watch points