Naoto Arai

Arai's current-season form is level with last season (Season 22→22), while his Rating held around 33. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 28).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2027/28	Sanfrecce Hiroshima · 4th	3	0	0	6.9	33	22
2026/27	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	17	1	1	7.02	—	—
2025/26	Sanfrecce Hiroshima · 4th	27	4	2	7	33	22
2024/25	Sanfrecce Hiroshima · 2nd	35	7	0	7.3	46	18
2024/25	Albirex Niigata	3	1	0	7.3	—	—
2023/24	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	28	2	0	6.86	—	—
2023/24	Albirex Niigata · 10th	24	2	0	6.86	45	28

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 4 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

N. Arai is a 29-year-old central defender at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, rated 33 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option this season (38.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.81 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Arai.

On the season, Arai graded 22 for current form (age-blind), on 6 clean sheets and 2.808 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 22 → 22). Over the 5 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 33. At 29 Arai is in his prime years, and a market index of 5.4 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 levelRemarkably consistent

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

21.7

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

38.4%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.81

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Sanfrecce Hiroshima finished 4th of 20 · an upper-table side

Apps

2.81

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.81 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 27 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (4th 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 4 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.41 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.

Watch points

Game time. Only 38.4% 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 33 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.81 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.1× now → 0.8× projected in three years).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %38.4%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.274

Assists / 900.137

Goal contribution / 900.411

Defensive actions / 902.808

Player flow

Goal involvements6

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 (~10), then tapers with age. At 29, Arai sits on 5.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Arai's projected Rating — 33 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-backs in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals4

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles27

Interceptions10

Blocks4

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

Sanfrecce HiroshimaMar 2024 – now

Albirex NiigataJan 2023 – Mar 2024

Cerezo Osaka(back from loan)Jan 2023 – Jan 2023

Tokushima Vortis(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

Cerezo OsakaJan 2021 – Jan 2022

Albirex Niigatauntil Jan 2021

About N. Arai

Naoto Arai is a 29-year-old centre-back who plays for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, born on October 7, 1996 in Tokyo, standing 173 cm tall. He is from Japan. Sanfrecce Hiroshima currently sit 4th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, N. Arai has made 3 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 75 minutes.

N. Arai's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Sanfrecce Hiroshima face Gamba Osaka away in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates N. Arai at 33 with a Season form score of 21.7. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the Super Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 9 recorded seasons, N. Arai has totalled 238 club appearances with 20 goals and 3 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 38 appearances for Tokushima Vortis.

N. Arai's career has also included time at Albirex Niigata, Cerezo Osaka and Tokushima Vortis.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.