Masaru Kato

Following his move to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Kato's current-season form is up 0% on last season (Season 0→50), while his Rating climbed 7→23. 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	23	50
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 7.2 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (12.9% 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 → 50).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 7. At 35 Kato is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.4 reflects that trajectory.

7.2

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

12.9%

Minutes

limited game time

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · V-varen Nagasaki finished 2nd of 20 · a title-challenging side

Apps

Def. / 90

—

Tackles

—

Interceptions

Clean sheets

0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 8 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (2nd 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.

Watch points

Game time. Only 12.9% 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 7.2 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 %12.9%

Available fixtures38 of 38

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 (~2), then tapers with age. At 35, Kato sits on 0.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Kato's projected Rating — 7.2 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 18th 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 September 2, 2026, when V-varen Nagasaki face Gamba Osaka at home in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Kato at 7.2 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.