Top Japanese football players playing in Europe

BeSoccer 2 years ago 2.8k |

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There are some quality Japanese footballers plying their trade in Europe. BeSoccer

Japanese players have become more prominent in the European leagues since the 2002 World Cup was hosted in the country.

Football has always been a popular sport in the country, with locals often keeping tabs on the EPL live scores and searching for football streaming websites. But, which players are the most prominent around Europe in the 2021-22 season?

Takehiro Tomiyasu

The newest Japanese arrival in the Premier League is Takehiro Tomiyasu. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise through the leagues. Just two years ago he was playing for Sint-Truiden in the Belgian League. However, Tomiyasu impressed during a two-year spell with Bologna between 2019 and 2021, playing 61 times and scoring three goals for the Serie A giants. That led Arsenal to make a move for the versatile defender, as the clubs agreed on a £17 million fee.

Tomiyasu made his first start for the Gunners in a 1-0 win against Norwich City, before impressing once again against Burnley in his second Premier League outing. The Japanese sportsbooks back home are predicting he will have a big role to play for Arsenal this season. As Mikel Arteta looks to get the team back into the Europa League, that seems to be a good prediction.

Take Kubo

Fans that regularly keep up to date with the LaLiga live results will be aware of the talented Take Kubo. The 20-year-old moved to Real Madrid in 2019 after catching the eye for FC Tokyo. However, the winger is yet to make his first start for the Spanish giants, as he has been out on loan at four La Liga sides over the past couple of years.

His most productive spell came during his first stay with Mallorca, as he scored four times in 35 games. He left a lasting impression on the Spanish side, as they moved for him once again this past summer. Kubo has also been an important part of the Japanese National team, and scored during Japan’s campaign at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Maya Yoshida

Few Japanese players have been playing at the top European leagues for as long as Maya Yoshida. The central defender moved to the European leagues in 2010 when he signed for Dutch side VVV-Venlo. After two years in the Netherlands, he was picked up by English side Southampton. He was a mainstay in their defence throughout his eight-year stay at the club, playing in the Premier League on 154 occasions. He was extremely important to the club between 2014 and 2018, playing over 20 games in each of the Premier League campaigns between that period.

Yoshida was also part of the Southampton team that finished runners-up in the EFL Cup, as they were beaten by Manchester United in the final. However, he left the Saints on loan in the 2019-20 season, before signing permanently for Sampdoria at the beginning of the 2020-21 season. During his stay with the Italian giants, he has played 52 times in all competitions, and has scored twice.

Daichi Kamada

There are two talented Japanese players plying their trade in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. Makoto Hasebe has been a mainstay in the team throughout his career in the German top-flight, while Daichi Kamada’s game has seen him become one of the most exciting young players in the top-flight in Germany. The 25-year-old has been with the German side since 2017. He has become a prominent player for the club since his impressive spell on loan during the 2018-19 season. Since returning to the Bundesliga club, from his year long stint in Belgium, he has been a key member of their team.

He played 28 games for Frankfurt in the 2019-20 season, before playing a more prominent role last term. In the 2020-21 campaign, Kamada played 32 times in the league, scoring five times. He was an integral part of the team that ensured a European finish in the Bundesliga. Kamada continues to be an important player for Frankfurt this season, and has featured in all games that the club have played to this point.

Conclusion

Since hosting the World Cup in 2002, Japan’s soccer prowess has continued to impress. With players in the top leagues of Europe, it seems like only a matter of time before Japan starts to threaten the top teams of the world. How long before we see a Japan vs Brazil final or semi-final? Only time will tell, but for now the world should take notice of Japanese football.