Japanese soccer player “Shoya Nakajima”, his career and style of play

This time, I introduce the career and play style of Japanese attacking midfielder “Shoya Nakajima” who is a member of Japan national football team.

Profile

FC Tokyo's Shoya Nakajima to join Portuguese club Portimonense on loan https://t.co/LRcgffsTTX pic.twitter.com/KYg8lh68mw

— r/JLeague (@JLeagueReddit) August 23, 2017

Name：Shoya Nakajima

Date of birth：August 23, 1994

Place of birth： Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan

Height：164 cm、Weight： 64 kg

Dominant foot：Right foot

Position：Attacking midfielder, Second striker

Current club： Portimonense S.C. (Portuguese football league, Primeira Liga)

Early career

Nakajima began playing soccer since he was 6 years old, after that he belonged to two soccer schools and futsal clubs. He belonged to the lower organization of Tokyo Verdy from 2004 and went to Brazil to study abroad three times during junior high school days.

He participated in the 35th Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-18) Competition held in 2011 as a member of the Tokyo Verdy Youth Team. In the competition he scored goals in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, and won the competition’s Best Young Player. In 2012, he trained shortly to AFC Ajax in the Netherlands.

Club carrer

Tokyo Verdy

In February 2012, Nakajima was promoted to a senior team of Tokyo Verdy, made the regular match debut in September. He contributed to the team with scoring and assistance, he signed a professional contract in October.

Nakajima achieved the hat-trick on the youngest 18-year-old 59days in the J-League, but after the director switched, there was almost no opportunity to participate in the game. Therefore, he was transferred to FC Tokyo in 2014.

Kataller Toyama

Immediately after transferring to FC Tokyo, Nakajima was transferred to Kataller Toyama (J2 League) with a loan. On this team he played as the second striker, the left attacking midfielder and the advanced playmaker of the formation “4-3-1-2”, but unfortunately did not often record goals and assistance.

FC Tokyo

Nakajima who returned to FC Tokyo in August 2014 gradually contributed to the team. And in the 2016 season He began to score the goal with a good pattern that he shoot long-distance shot after dribbling from the left side toward the center.

Portimonense S.C.

On August 23, 2017, Nakajima was transferred to Portuguese football league (Primeira Liga) Portimonense S.C. with a loan until June 30, 2018. He plays as left winger of formation “4-3-3” or as second striker of “4-4-2”.

During the 2017 – 2018 season 2018, Nakajima scored 10 goals and 12 assist in the league. Therefore, FC Porto, S. L. Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg are interested in his acquisition.

International career

In 2011, Nakajima was elected the Japan national under-17 football team and participated in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He participated from the beginning in the game of the group stage first game against Jamaica and participated in the quarter-final against Brazil from the middle of the game and scored the goal.

He participated in the AFC U – 22 Championship held in January 2013 and scored three goals, but the team lost to Iraq in the quarterfinals.

He also participated in the 2016 AFC U – 23 Championship, contributed to the team’s victory by scoring two goals, recording assistance to Takuma Asano in the final game, and was elected the most valuable player of the competition. Then, the team decided to participate in Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro.

At Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Nakajima started first in all three games of the group stage and scored a goal against the second game against Colombia, but the team could not advanced to the knockout stage as it was third in the group stage.

On 23rd March, 2018, Nakajima played the first game in the senior team at the friendly match against Mali and scored 1 goal.

style of play

First of all, please watch this video.

[ Nakajima’s 14 goals in FC Tokyo ]

[ Long-distance shot at 2016 AFC U – 23 Championship against Iraq]

[ Shoya Nakajima 2017-2018 Season ALL GOAL & Assist]

Nakajima’s style of play is summarized below.

・Long-distance shot is accurate and fast.

・Quickness dribbling　

・He may choose dribbling when he should pass.

Summary

Nakajima has not yet been elected to the senior team of the Japan national football team, but depending on the future success it is likely to be convened immediately. Everyone, attention to his success in the future.

Yours sincerely,