Yu Hirakawa

Hirakawa's current-season form is level with last season (Season 10→10), while his Rating held around 57. His peak season for form remains 2024/25 (Season 12).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Bristol City · 19th	2	0	0	6.9	57	10
2025/26	Bristol City · 12th	33	1	3	6.73	57	10
2025/26	Hull CityLoan	9	0	1	6.73	—	—
2024/25	Bristol CityLoan · 6th	38	2	2	6.8	63	12
2024/25	Machida Zelvia · 3rd	18	2	5	7.33	53	19
2023/24	Machida Zelvia	35	6	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Machida Zelvia	16	2	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 1 earlier season in the full career.

Japan · international

Side	Apps	G
Japan	1	0
Japan U23	7	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCreative Defensive midfielder

Y. Hirakawa is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder at Bristol City, rated 57.4 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a fringe squad member this season (20.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.63 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Hirakawa.

On the season, Hirakawa graded 16 for current form (age-blind), on 1 goal, 3 assists and 4.632 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 10 → 10). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2024/25.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 57. At 25 Hirakawa is in his prime years, and a market index of 26.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2024/25 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2024/25Holding levelInjury-hit 2025/26

57.4

Ratingi

a solid contributor and squad regular

16.4

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

20.7%

Minutes

limited game time

4.63

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Bristol City finished 12th of 24 · a mid-table side

Apps

4.63

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

4.63 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 33 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 3 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.42 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.
Creativity. 0.32 assists per 90 — a genuine creative outlet.
Defensive volume. 4.63 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 20.7% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.

Outlook

Rated 57.4 overall — a solid contributor and squad regular. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.63 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %20.7%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.105

Assists / 900.316

Goal contribution / 900.421

Defensive actions / 904.632

Player flow

Goal involvements4

Cards / 900.211

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 (~26), then tapers with age. At 25, Hirakawa sits on 26.4, at or near its peak. The blue line is Hirakawa's projected Rating — 57.4 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 defensive midfielders in the Championship with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists3

Defending

Tackles35

Interceptions8

Blocks1

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

Bristol City(back from loan)Jun 2026 – now

Hull City(on loan)Jan 2026 – Jun 2026

Bristol CityJun 2025 – Jan 2026

Machida Zelvia(back from loan)Jun 2025 – Jun 2025

Bristol CityFeb 2025 – Jun 2025

Machida Zelviauntil Feb 2025

About Y. Hirakawa

Yu Hirakawa is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Bristol City, born on January 3, 2001 in Kashima, standing 171 cm tall. He is from Japan. Bristol City currently sit 19th of 24 in the Championship.

This season

In the current season, Y. Hirakawa has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 134 minutes.

Y. Hirakawa's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Bristol City face Portsmouth at home in the Championship.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Y. Hirakawa at 57.4 with a Season form score of 16.4. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 4 career titles — among them the AFC U23 Asian Cup and the J2 League. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 6 recorded seasons, Y. Hirakawa has totalled 152 club appearances with 13 goals and 11 assists for 3 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 38 appearances for Bristol City.

Y. Hirakawa's career has also included time at Hull City and Machida Zelvia.

On the international stage, Y. Hirakawa has represented Japan and Japan U23 — 8 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.