based on the 2025 season · updated 18 Aug 2026
Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Albirex Niigata.
Scout report
M. Fitzgerald is a 37-year-old central defender at Albirex Niigata, enjoying a standout season — 1 goals and 0 assists in 31 appearances, a Season grade of 16. On long-term scout potential he's rated 12.8. A seasoned veteran, he has been a regular starter (75.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.47 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Fitzgerald.
On the season, Fitzgerald graded 16 for current form (age-blind), on 4 clean sheets and 2.465 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 25 → 16). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 13. At 37 Fitzgerald is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1.5 reflects that trajectory.
Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.
Output in context · Albirex Niigata finished 20th of 20 · a relegation-threatened side
2.47 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (20th 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. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 75.8% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Watch points
- Age curve. At 37, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
Rated 12.8 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.47 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.5× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the J2 League with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
