Zain Issaka

Following his move to Montedio Yamagata, Issaka's current-season form is up 300% on last season (Season 1→4), while his Rating eased 43→22. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	JEF United Chiba	19	1	2	6.59	—	—
2025/26	Montedio Yamagata · 10th	13	1	0	—	22	4
2024/25	Montedio Yamagata	38	5	0	—	—	—
2023/24	Montedio Yamagata	41	6	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Yokohama FC	29	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.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral midfielder

Z. Issaka is a 29-year-old central midfielder at Montedio Yamagata, rated 21.7 overall by Field Insider's model. An experienced operator, he has been a fringe squad member this season (16.8% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Issaka.

On the season, Issaka graded 4 for current form (age-blind), on 1 goal, 0 assists and 0 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 1 → 4).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 22. At 29 Issaka is in his prime years, and a market index of 2.1 reflects that trajectory.

21.7

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

3.7

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

16.8%

Minutes

limited game time

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Montedio Yamagata finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Apps

Def. / 90

—

Tackles

—

Interceptions

Clean sheets

0 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 13 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.16 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.

Watch points

Game time. Only 16.8% 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 21.7 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (0 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.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %16.8%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.157

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.157

Defensive actions / 900

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.313

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 (~6), then tapers with age. At 29, Issaka sits on 2.1, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Issaka's projected Rating — 21.7 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 central midfielders in the J1 League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2

Red cards0

Transfer history

JEF United ChibaJul 2025 – now

Montedio YamagataJan 2023 – Jul 2025

Kawasaki Frontale(back from loan)Jan 2023 – Jan 2023

Yokohama FC(on loan)Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

Kawasaki Frontaleuntil Jan 2022

About Z. Issaka

Zain Issaka is a 29-year-old central midfielder who plays for JEF United Chiba, born on May 29, 1997 in Machida, standing 174 cm tall. He is from Japan. JEF United Chiba currently sit 20th of 20 in the J1 League.

This season

In the current season, Z. Issaka has made 13 appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists across 575 minutes, with 2 yellow cards.

Z. Issaka's next match is on August 29, 2026, when JEF United Chiba face Kawasaki Frontale away in the J1 League.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Z. Issaka at 21.7 with a Season form score of 3.7. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 5 career titles — among them the J1 League and the Super Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 6 recorded seasons, Z. Issaka has totalled 141 club appearances with 15 goals and 2 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2023/24, with 41 appearances for Montedio Yamagata.

Z. Issaka's career has also included time at Montedio Yamagata, Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama FC.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Montedio Yamagata finished 10th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points