Motohiko Nakajima

Nakajima's current-season form is up 300% on last season (Season 6→24), while his Rating eased 47→44. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Cerezo Osaka	19	0	4	6.88	—	—
2025/26	Cerezo Osaka · 10th	36	5	2	6.92	44	24
2024/25	Vegalta Sendai	40	15	0	—	—	—
2023/24	Vegalta Sendai	32	6	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Vegalta Sendai	33	4	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Cerezo Osaka	1	0	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 2 earlier seasons and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerCentre-forward

M. Nakajima is a 27-year-old centre-forward at Cerezo Osaka, rated 43.5 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (66.8% of available minutes). He brings 0.28 goal contributions per 90 (0.2 goals, 0.08 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Nakajima.

On the season, Nakajima graded 24 for current form (age-blind), on 5 goals and 2 assists in 36 appearances (0.276 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 6 → 24).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 44. At 27 Nakajima is in his prime years, and a market index of 11.9 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

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

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26

43.5

Ratingi

developing / rotation level

24.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

66.8%

Minutes

a regular starter

0.28

Goal contrib / 90

modest end product

Output in context · Cerezo Osaka finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.14

Goals / app

5 goals in 36 appearances (0.14 per game) for a mid-table side. Add 2 assists for 7 goal contributions in all.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 66.8% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Output. 0.28 contributions per 90 is light for an attacking role — end product needs to climb.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 43.5 overall — developing / rotation level. In the final third he profiles as a work-in-progress on end product (0.28 goal contributions 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 %66.8%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.197

Assists / 900.079

Goal contribution / 900.276

Defensive actions / 901.932

Player flow

Goal involvements7

Cards / 900.039

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 age 27 (~12), then tapers with age. At 27, Nakajima sits on 11.9, at or near its peak. The blue line is Nakajima's projected Rating — 43.5 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-forwards in the J2 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals5

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles33

Interceptions14

Blocks2

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Vegalta SendaiJun 2026 – now

Cerezo Osaka(back from loan)Feb 2025 – Jun 2026

Vegalta Sendai(on loan)Apr 2022 – Feb 2025

Cerezo Osaka(back from loan)Jan 2021 – Apr 2022

Albirex Niigata(on loan)Jul 2020 – Jan 2021

Cerezo Osakauntil Jul 2020

About M. Nakajima

Motohiko Nakajima is a 27-year-old centre-forward who plays for Vegalta Sendai, born on April 18, 1999 in Osaka, standing 170 cm tall. He is from Japan. Vegalta Sendai currently sit 11th of 20 in the J2 League.

This season

In the current season, M. Nakajima has made 36 appearances with 5 goals and 2 assists across 2,283 minutes, with 1 yellow card.

M. Nakajima's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Vegalta Sendai face Tegevajaro Miyazaki at home in the J2 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Nakajima at 43.5 with a Season form score of 24.1. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the Super Cup and the Emperor Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, M. Nakajima has totalled 273 club appearances with 53 goals and 6 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 40 appearances for Vegalta Sendai.

M. Nakajima's career has also included time at Cerezo Osaka and Albirex Niigata.

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 · Cerezo Osaka finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points