Field Insider
Central midfielderJapanJ1 League

Naohiro Sugiyama

Squad depthJEF United Chiba · 28 yrsFringe player
28.8
±0%
Ratingi
2.8
±0%
Seasoni
2.8
Valuei

based on the 2025 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameNaohiro Sugiyama
PositionCentral midfielder
NationalityJapan
Age28
Date of birth7 Sept 1998
BirthplaceKitakyushu
Height175 cm
Shirt number#18
ClubJEF United Chiba
More about N. Sugiyama →
Central midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
3
Appearances
0
Goals
0
Assists
146
Minutes

Domestic-league season · JEF United Chiba.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
J1 League100112.8

Scout report

Squad depthCentral midfielder

N. Sugiyama is a 28-year-old central midfielder at JEF United Chiba, rated 25.6 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a fringe squad member this season (5.4% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Sugiyama.

On the season, Sugiyama graded 3 for current form (age-blind), on 1 goal, 0 assists and 0 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 3 → 3). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 26. At 28 Sugiyama is in his prime years, and a market index of 2.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Below his 2023/24 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2023/24Holding level
25.6
Ratingi
below regular-starter level
2.6
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
5.4%
Minutes
limited game time
0
Def. actions / 90
light defensive volume

Output in context · JEF United Chiba finished 3rd of 20 · an upper-table side

8
Apps
0
Def. / 90
—
Tackles
—
Interceptions
1
Clean sheets

0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 8 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 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

  • Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.46 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 5.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 25.6 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.