Yuta Saitai

First senior season on record — and already on the pitch for 100% of Imabari's available minutes, one of the top game-time debuts in the J2 League this season.

Experienced headCentral defender

Y. Saitai is a 31-year-old central defender at Imabari, rated 13.4 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (12.1% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Saitai.

On the season, Saitai graded 0 for current form (age-blind), on 0 clean sheets and 0 defensive actions per 90.

We hold a single season for Saitai, 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 13. At 31 Saitai is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1.1 reflects that trajectory.

13.4

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

12.1%

Minutes

limited game time

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

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

Apps

Def. / 90

—

Tackles

—

Interceptions

Clean sheets

0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume across 2 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.

Watch points

Game time. Only 12.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 13.4 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %12.1%

Available fixtures2 of 4

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 900

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Cards / 900

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 (~2), then tapers with age. At 31, Saitai sits on 1.1, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Saitai's projected Rating — 13.4 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.

Transfer history

ImabariJan 2024 – now

UUrayasuuntil Jan 2024

About Y. Saitai

Yuta Saitai is a 31-year-old centre-back who plays for Imabari, born on September 6, 1994 in Saitama, standing 183 cm tall. He is from Japan. Imabari currently sit 20th of 20 in the J2 League.

This season

In the current season, Y. Saitai has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 207 minutes.

Y. Saitai's next match is on September 2, 2026, when Imabari face Kanazawa away in the J-League Cup.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Y. Saitai at 13.4 with a Season form score of 0. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 2 recorded seasons, Y. Saitai has totalled 4 club appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists for 2 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 3 appearances for Imabari.

Y. Saitai's career has also included time at UUrayasu.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.