Field Insider

Naoto Arai

Squad depthSanfrecce Hiroshima · 30 yrsRotation

based on the 2026 season · updated 19 Oct 2026

Profile

Full nameNaoto Arai
PositionFull-back
NationalityJapan
Age30
Date of birth7 Oct 1996
BirthplaceTokyo
Height173 cm
Shirt number#5
ClubSanfrecce Hiroshima
Full-back
10
Appearances
0
Goals
0
Assists
660
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
J1 League100106.9

Scout report

Squad depthFull-back

N. Arai is a 30-year-old full-back at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 0 assists in 10 appearances, a Season grade of 29, top 35% of J1 League full-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 27.3, ranking 114th of 193 in the J1 League. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option (38.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.46 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Arai.

Judged on this season alone, Arai graded 29 — a solid campaign that ranks top 35% of the 23 full-backs in the J1 League, on 4 clean sheets and 2.455 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 22 → 29). Across the 5 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 27, 14th of 23 of the 23 full-backs in the J1 League. At 30 Arai is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 6.2 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

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

Peak: 2027/28Trending upRemarkably consistent
27.3
Ratingi
14th of 23 full-backs
28.7
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
38.6%
Minutes
rotation minutes
2.46
Def. actions / 90
moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Sanfrecce Hiroshima finished 1st of 20 · a title-challenging side

10
Apps
2.46
Def. / 90
9
Tackles
6
Interceptions
4
Clean sheets

2.46 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 10 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (1st 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 38.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 27.3, Arai carries the 14th-highest potential of the full-backs in the J1 League of 23 — though on just 10 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.46 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1× now → 0.7× projected in three years).

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

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among full-backs in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0
Shots on target4
Shots13

Passing

Assists0
Chances created13
Passes531
Pass accuracy87%

Possession

Successful dribbles9
Dribble success81.8%
Duels won34
Duels won %55.7%
Fouls won10

Defending

Tackles9
Interceptions6
Blocks3
Fouls committed4

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.