Field Insider
Central midfielderJapanJ1 League

Reiya Sakata

Rising starCerezo Osaka · 22 yrsFringe player
47.4
3.5%
Ratingi
7.5
240.9%
Seasoni
12.3
Valuei

based on the 2025 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameReiya Sakata
PositionCentral midfielder
NationalityJapan
Age22
Date of birth11 May 2004
BirthplaceKyoto
Height170 cm
Shirt number#17
ClubCerezo Osaka
More about R. Sakata →
Central midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
22
Appearances
0
Goals
1
Assists
732
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Cerezo Osaka.

Scout report

Rising starCentral midfielder

R. Sakata is a 22-year-old central midfielder at Cerezo Osaka, rated 47.4 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 9th of 98 on scout potential in the J1 League and 574th of 1772 U-23 players tracked. An emerging talent, he has been a fringe squad member this season (21.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.21 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Sakata.

Judged on this season alone, Sakata graded 8 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 16th of 24 of the 24 central midfielders in the J1 League, on 0 goals, 1 assist and 2.213 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 2 → 8). Across the 3 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 47, top 9% of the 24 central midfielders in the J1 League. At 22 Sakata is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 12.3 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Sakata is operating at his career peak — the 2025/26 level is the level.

Peak: 2025/26Holding levelRemarkably consistent
Current potential2nd of 24 central midfielders · J1 League · 22 appsCurrent season16th of 24 central midfielders · J1 League · 22 apps16th-best central midfielder in the J1 League9th in the J1 League · potential2nd-highest potential central midfielder in the J1 League574th-highest potential U-23 tracked
47.4
Ratingi
2nd of 24 central midfielders
7.5
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
21.4%
Minutes
limited game time
2.21
Def. actions / 90
moderate defensive volume

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

22
Apps
2.21
Def. / 90
16
Tackles
2
Interceptions
1
Clean sheets

2.21 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 22 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 21.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.

Outlook

With a Rating of 47.4, Sakata carries the 2nd-highest potential of the central midfielders in the J1 League of 24 — though on just 22 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.21 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 1.9×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

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

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles16
Interceptions2

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.