9 Best Japanese Players The Premier League Has Ever Seen
- Think Football Ideas
- Jul 13, 2025
- 5 min read
Japan has produced its fair share of technically gifted footballers, players with discipline, flair, and a deep love for the game. Across Europe, they’ve carved out respected careers, quietly becoming key figures in clubs that value more than flash.
While only a handful have tested themselves in the unforgiving world of the Premier League, those who did left lasting impressions. From title winners to tactical warriors, these are the best Japanese players the Premier League has ever seen. They didn’t only show up in the English top flight, they made it matter.
9 Best Japanese Players The Premier League Has Ever Seen
9. Junichi Inamoto
Before Japanese stars became part of the league’s fabric, there was Junichi Inamoto, the pioneering figure who broke the ceiling. His Premier League journey officially began with Fulham in 2002, after a silent spell at Arsenal, where he didn’t make a league appearance.
But at Craven Cottage, he found his rhythm, becoming the trailblazing midfield samurai. Who could forget that stunning winner at Old Trafford in 2003, as Fulham shocked Manchester United?
Over his stints with Fulham and later West Brom, he racked up 66 appearances, netting four goals. More than stats, he embodied courage at a time when few dared.
8. Takehiro Tomiyasu
A right-back by position but also a tactical chameleon at the back, Takehiro Tomiyasu arrived at Arsenal in 2021 and quickly became a fan favourite for his adaptability. Whether tucked in centrally or hugging the touchline, he defended with smarts and discipline.
By the time he left Arsenal in July 2025, he had clocked 65 Premier League games, notching two goals and three assists. Injuries may have interrupted his rhythm, but whenever fit, he played like a metronome in chaos. A modern defender with an old soul. He was solid, subtle, and unbothered by the spotlight.
7. Takumi Minamino
Takumi Minamino’s Premier League chapter with Liverpool began in January 2020, just before COVID changed the world. He wasn’t a week-in, week-out starter, but he became a key part of Klopp’s rotation puzzle, stepping in when it mattered.
He joined midway through the title-winning 2019/20 campaign, making 10 appearances and quietly contributing to one of the most dominant sides in league history. Some called him the underrated link in a title-winning machine.
A tidy technician with clever movement, he also had a fruitful loan at Southampton. Across 40 Premier League games, he scored six goals, but his true value was often in the subtle spaces he created rather than the stats he left behind.
He became something of a cult figure, misunderstood by some, yet steadily more appreciated as time went on.
6. Wataru Endo
Eyebrows were raised when Wataru Endo signed for Liverpool in August 2023, but within weeks, doubts turned into nods of respect. The midfielder, signed from Stuttgart, brought much-needed steel and serenity to a team in transition.
Calm under pressure and relentless in duels, he quickly became Jurgen Klopp’s unsung hero. By the end of 2024/25, he had 49 league appearances and was part of Liverpool’s second Premier League title under Arne Slot. He may not wear the armband, but he plays like a silent leader, efficient, no-nonsense, and ever-reliable.
5. Daichi Kamada
When Daichi Kamada reunited with Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace in 2024, few predicted the impact he’d have. With his velvet touch and intelligent positioning, the former Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker knitted Palace’s midfield together.
Kamada played 34 Premier League matches in his debut season, bringing balance and vision to a team once short on guile. He may not be flashy, but his movements are poetry, and his understanding of tempo is elite.
Beyond his technical skill, the silent conductor at Selhurst Park, Kamada, battles hard every game. His tireless work rate was key in helping the Eagles secure the 2024-25 FA Cup, where they triumphed over Pep’s Manchester City.
4. Maya Yoshida
Rarely headline material, but undeniably dependable, Maya Yoshida gave Southampton eight solid Premier League seasons starting from 2012. A centre-back with leadership in his veins, Yoshida notched 154 appearances, the most of any Japanese player in the league.
He was there for the turbulent times and the European pushes, helping Saints keep clean sheets with quiet authority.
His best spell arguably came under Ronald Koeman in 2015/16, when Southampton finished sixth. More than numbers, he brought dignity and grit. He was a warrior who let his actions speak.
3. Kaoru Mitoma
When Kaoru Mitoma burst onto the Premier League scene with Brighton in 2022, fans were instantly hooked. His attitude, electric dribbling, and sudden change of pace made defenders look foolish.
Signed in 2021, loaned out to Union SG, then launched into the English top flight, his rise was like a manga hero’s arc. By the end of 2024/25, he had 88 appearances, 20 goals, and 13 assists. The artist in Brighton’s evolution has brought flair, making the Seagulls a must-watch. Japanese football has found its showman in England.
2. Shinji Kagawa
The year was 2012 when Manchester United brought in Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund, and with it, history was made. In 2012/13, he became the first Japanese player to win the Premier League, and his hat-trick against Norwich that season remains one of the finest by an Asian player.
Though his two-year stint at Old Trafford saw 38 league games and six goals, Kagawa’s silky touch, quick turns, and incisive passing offered something fresh. Injuries and managerial changes hampered his consistency, but at his best, he was pure footballing finesse.
1. Shinji Okazaki
If Leicester’s 2015/16 title win was a miracle, then Shinji Okazaki was one of its unsung saints. Arriving from Mainz that summer, the industrious forward threw himself into every challenge and every duel.
He wasn’t flamboyant, but his overhead kick against Newcastle, relentless pressing, and selfless movement made him a manager’s dream. In four seasons, he played 114 games, scored 14 goals, and created endless chaos in enemy lines.
More than a Premier League winner, Okazaki was a symbol of humility, hard work, and the unbelievable dream turned reality - the Fox who helped rewrite football history.