Motohiko Nakajima

Motohiko Nakajima
中島 元彦
Personal information
Full name Motohiko Nakajima
Date of birth (1999-04-18) April 18, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Osaka, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Vegalta Sendai (on loan from Cerezo Osaka)
Number 7
Youth career
–2007 Suita Minami FC
2008–2017 Cerezo Osaka
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– Cerezo Osaka 12 (2)
2016–2019 → Cerezo Osaka U-23 (loan) 78 (19)
2020-2021 → Albirex Niigata (loan) 35 (5)
2022- → Vegalta Sendai (loan) 98 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 September 2024

Motohiko Nakajima (中島 元彦, Motohiko Nakajima, born April 18, 1999) is a Japanese football player who plays for Vegalta Sendai, on loan from Cerezo Osaka.[1]

Career

Cerezo Osaka

On 29 September 2017, Nakajima was promoted to the first team.[2] On June 6 2020, it was announced that he would return to Cerezo Osaka for the 2021 season.[3] He made his league debut against Yokohama F. Marinos on 6 April 2021.[4] Nakajima scored his first league goal and his first goal in the J1 League against Avispa Fukuoka on 10 April 2021.[5]

Cerezo Osaka U-23

He made his league debut in J3 League v Kagoshima United FC.[6][7] On 2 December 2018, during the Osaka derby, Nakajima scored and assisted in a 2-0 win.[8]

Loan to Albirex Niigata

On 20 July 2020, Nakajima joined Albirex Niigata.[9] He made his league debut against Mito HollyHock on 25 July 2020.[10] Nakajima scored his first league goal against Machida Zelvia on 4 October 2020, scoring in the 45th+1st minute.[11]

Loan to Vegalta Sendai

On 6 April 2022, Nakajima was announced at Vegalta Sendai.[12] He made his league debut against Renofa Yamaguchi on 10 April 2022.[13] Nakajima scored his first league goal against Zweigen Kanazawa on 15 May 2022, scoring in the 38th minute.[14]

Nakajima won the 2022 MVP of the Year award, as chosen by the supporters.[15]

Nakajima won the May 2024 Meiji Yasuda J2 League MVP award.[16]

International career

In February 2017, Nakajima was selected for the Japan U18s tour of Spain.[17]

Style of play

Nakajima can play as a midfielder or forward, and has been praised for being able to strike a free kick with either foot well.[18]

Club statistics

Updated to 14 September 2022.[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cerezo Osaka U-23 2016 J3 League 3 0 - - - - — 3 0
2017 10 3 - - - - — 10 3
2018 31 7 - - - - — 31 7
2019 34 9 - - - - — 34 9
Total 78 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 78 19
Albirex Niigata (loan) 2020 J2 League 35 5 - - - - — 35 5
Cerezo Osaka 2021 J1 League 12 2 3 0 2 0 5 0 6 2
2022 0 0 0 0 1 0 ー 1 0
Total 12 2 3 0 3 0 5 0 23 2
Vegalta Sendai (loan) 2022 J2 League 33 4 1 0 - - — 34 4
Career total 158 30 4 0 3 0 5 0 170 30
As of match played 18 July 2020[20][21]

International

  • Japan national under-16 football team
  • Japan national under-17 football team
  • Japan national under-18 football team

References

  1. ^ J.League Data Site
  2. ^ "C大阪がU-17W杯日本代表FW山田寛人、FW中島元彦のトップ昇格内定を発表". web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 29 September 2017.
  3. ^ "新潟に武者修行のMF中島元彦がC大阪に復帰「強い覚悟を持って新シーズンに臨みます」". web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 8 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Yokohama F.Marinos vs Cerezo Osaka - 6 April 2021". int.soccerway.com.
  5. ^ "Ｃ大阪ＦＷ中島元彦がＪ１初ゴール 鮮やかミドル Ｊ屈指の「ウイイレ」凄腕". www.daily.co.jp (in Japanese).
  6. ^ J.League Data Site
  7. ^ Match report J.League Data Site
  8. ^ "最終節！"大阪ダービー"は中島元彦の1G1A！C大阪23が制す！｜レビューJ3第34節G大阪U-23vsC大阪U-23". lifepicture.co.jp (in Japanese). 4 December 2018.
  9. ^ "セレッソ大阪から 中島 元彦 選手 育成型期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  10. ^ "Albirex Niigata vs Mito Hollyhock - 25 July 2020". int.soccerway.com.
  11. ^ "Albirex Niigata vs Machida Zelvia - 4 October 2020". int.soccerway.com.
  12. ^ "セレッソ大阪 中島元彦選手 育成型期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ". www.vegalta.co.jp (in Japanese).
  13. ^ "Vegalta Sendai vs Renofa Yamaguchi - 10 April 2022". int.soccerway.com.
  14. ^ "Vegalta Sendai vs Zweigen Kanazawa - 15 May 2022". int.soccerway.com.
  15. ^ "10月16日(日)、2022明治安田生命Ｊ2 第41節 ロアッソ熊本戦にて2022シーズンホーム最終戦セレモニーを開催いたしました。". www.vegalta.co.jp (in Japanese).
  16. ^ "明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP". www.jleague.jp (in Japanese).
  17. ^ "[プレミアリーグWEST]J3で経験積む世代最高クラスのアタッカー、C大阪U-18MF中島元彦". web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 6 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Ｃ大阪・クルピ監督がＭＦ中島元彦を絶賛「ＦＫを両足で完璧に蹴られる選手」". hochi.news (in Japanese). 26 June 2021.
  19. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 28 out of 289)
  20. ^ Motohiko Nakajima at National-Football-Teams.com
  21. ^ Motohiko Nakajima at Soccerway