Field Insider

based on the 2025 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameTaiki Arai
PositionDefensive midfielder
NationalityJapan
Age29
Date of birth19 Jun 1997
BirthplaceKanagawa
Height175 cm
Shirt number#22
ClubAlbirex Niigata
Defensive midfielder
24
Appearances
1
Goals
0
Assists
1657
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Albirex Niigata.

Scout report

Squad depthDefensive midfielder

T. Arai is a 29-year-old defensive midfielder at Albirex Niigata, rated 29.1 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option this season (48.5% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.8 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 19 for current form (age-blind), on 1 goal, 0 assists and 3.802 defensive actions per 90.

We hold a single season for Arai, so there's no year-on-year comparison to draw yet — the read above is this campaign only.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 29. At 29 Arai is in his prime years, and a market index of 4.8 reflects that trajectory.

29.1
Ratingi
below regular-starter level
19.3
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
48.5%
Minutes
rotation minutes
3.8
Def. actions / 90
solid defensive volume

Output in context · Albirex Niigata finished 20th of 20 · a relegation-threatened side

24
Apps
3.8
Def. / 90
39
Tackles
21
Interceptions
2
Clean sheets

3.8 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 24 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (20th of 20) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

  • Defensive volume. 3.8 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 48.5% 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 29.1 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.8 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.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the J2 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles39
Interceptions21
Blocks10

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.