Empire FGA — Player Profile
Ajax (2025–26 Season)
Career overview
Empire FGA Rating
81
Tier: Established
Position percentile: Top 8%
Pillar summary
Aerial Strength
83
Passing from back
82
Positioning
80
Recovery
78
| Years | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2018 | Kawasaki Frontale (youth) | - | - |
| 2019–2022 | Groningen / Schalke loans | 87 | 5 |
| 2022–2025 | Borussia M'gladbach | 75 | 6 |
| 2025– | Ajax | 5 | 1 |
International: Japan — senior caps and tournament experience; versatile across CB and defensive midfielder roles.
Core attributes (Empire FGA)
Composure
82
Long Passing
81
Versatility
78
Legacy notes
Experienced, reliable defender who offers clean distribution and tactical flexibility; ideal for sides that build from the back with occasional pivot stepping forward.
Season performance — Last 5 matches (Empire FGA evaluations)
| Opponent | Date | Competition | Min | Empire FGA | Key contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marseille | 2025-09-30 | UCL | 90 | 7.0 | Full 90; composed buildup; accurate long passes; 4 clearances |
| Breda | 2025-09-27 | Eredivisie | 90 | 7.2 | Clean defending; 3 interceptions; 65 passes (88%) |
| Inter | 2025-09-17 | UCL | 84 | 6.9 | High-pressure test; 5 aerial duels won; steady distribution |
| Volendam | 2025-08-30 | Eredivisie | 90 | 7.6 | 1 goal from set-piece; dominant aerially; 7 clearances |
| Friendlies | 2025-08-07 | Preseason | 60 | 6.4 | Rotation minutes; working on timing with new partner |
Match-level quick metrics
| Match | Quick metrics |
|---|---|
| Marseille | Pass acc 88%; Long pass accuracy 82%; Clearances 4 |
| Breda | Interceptions 3; Passes 65 (88%); Recoveries 5 |
| Inter | Aerial duels won 5; Tackles 2; Progressive passes 3 |
| Volendam | Goals 1; Aerial duels won 6; Clearances 7 |
| Friendlies | Touches 30; Positioning drills; Pass acc 84% |
Scout takeaways
- Strengths: aerial dominance, clean long passing and calm under press; adds set-piece threat.
- Development: coordination with centre-back partner and high-line triggers; slight improvement needed on recovery speed vs explosive wingers.
- Recommendation: steady starts to build partnership, targeted recovery sprint work and set-piece finishing practice.
Career milestones
Milestones placeholder: Groningen breakthrough, Schalke promotion, Bundesliga experience, Ajax transfer 2025
- Key Bundesliga minutes at Borussia M'gladbach; international regular for Japan across tournaments.
- Signed for Ajax 2025 to add experience and distribution from the back.
Advanced metrics (Empire estimates)
Defensive
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Clearances /90 | 5.4 |
| Aerial duels won % | 71% |
| Interceptions /90 | 1.9 |
Passing & Progression
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Progressive passes /90 | 2.8 |
| Long pass accuracy | 82% |
| Pass completion | 87% |
Tactical philosophy mapping
Ball-playing centre-back who suits high-line teams that prioritise clean distribution and aerial security; can step into defensive-mid rotations when required.
Players comparison
Comparison placeholder: Itakura vs other ball-playing centre-backs (aerial + passing)
Suggested comps: physically dominant, calm distributors; re-evaluate after partnership sample settles.
Visuals
Heatmap
Heatmap SVG placeholder — central defensive zones
Radar
Radar SVG placeholder — aerials, passing, positioning
Highlights strip — replace with clip thumbnails or embeds