| 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 | |||
| 0000–2007 | 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.
Career
Cerezo Osaka
On 29 September 2017, Nakajima was promoted to the first team. On June 6 2020, it was announced that he would return to Cerezo Osaka for the 2021 season. He made his league debut against Yokohama F. Marinos on 6 April 2021. Nakajima scored his first league goal and his first goal in the J1 League against Avispa Fukuoka on 10 April 2021.
Cerezo Osaka U-23
He made his league debut in J3 League v Kagoshima United FC. On 2 December 2018, during the Osaka derby, Nakajima scored and assisted in a 2-0 win.
Loan to Albirex Niigata
On 20 July 2020, Nakajima joined Albirex Niigata. He made his league debut against Mito HollyHock on 25 July 2020. Nakajima scored his first league goal against Machida Zelvia on 4 October 2020, scoring in the 45th+1st minute.
Loan to Vegalta Sendai
On 6 April 2022, Nakajima was announced at Vegalta Sendai. He made his league debut against Renofa Yamaguchi on 10 April 2022. Nakajima scored his first league goal against Zweigen Kanazawa on 15 May 2022, scoring in the 38th minute.
Nakajima won the 2022 MVP of the Year award, as chosen by the supporters.
Nakajima won the May 2024 Meiji Yasuda J2 League MVP award.
International career
In February 2017, Nakajima was selected for the Japan U18s tour of Spain.
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.
Club statistics
Updated to 14 September 2022.
| 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
International
- Japan national under-16 football team
- Japan national under-17 football team
- Japan national under-18 football team
References
- J.League Data Site
- "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.
- "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.
- "Yokohama F.Marinos vs Cerezo Osaka - 6 April 2021". int.soccerway.com.
- "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).
- J.League Data Site
- Match report J.League Data Site
- "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.
- "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).
- "Albirex Niigata vs Mito Hollyhock - 25 July 2020". int.soccerway.com.
- "Albirex Niigata vs Machida Zelvia - 4 October 2020". int.soccerway.com.
- "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).
- "Vegalta Sendai vs Renofa Yamaguchi - 10 April 2022". int.soccerway.com.
- "Vegalta Sendai vs Zweigen Kanazawa - 15 May 2022". int.soccerway.com.
- "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).
- "明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP". www.jleague.jp (in Japanese).
- "[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.
- "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.
- 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)
- Motohiko Nakajima at National-Football-Teams.com
- Motohiko Nakajima at Soccerway
External links
- Profile at Cerezo Osaka
- Motohiko Nakajima at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
| Vegalta Sendai – current squad | |
|---|---|
|
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Association football people from Osaka Prefecture
- Japanese men's footballers
- J1 League players
- J2 League players
- J3 League players
- 21st-century Japanese sportsmen
- Cerezo Osaka players
- Cerezo Osaka U-23 players
- Albirex Niigata players
- Vegalta Sendai players
- Men's association football forwards