List of foreign J.League players

This is an updated list of foreign players who have played for football clubs in the J.League (1993–present), including division levels J1 League, J2 League, J3 League, Japan Football League (1992–1998 (old JFL), 1999–present (new JFL)), Japanese Regional Leagues and Japan Soccer League (as of late 1960s into early 1990s) both junior careers and senior careers.

In bold: Players who still are under contract at a Japanese club. As for dual citizen, nationality is listed under official registration. In this article, maybe there are players who are not listed, despite meeting the previously mentioned criteria.

Naturalized players Ko Ishikawa – Honda FC, Tokyo Verdy, Nagoya Grampus – 1989–2002 Ademir Santos – Júbilo Iwata, Shimizu S-Pulse – 1987–1996 Alessandro Santos – Shimizu S-Pulse, Urawa Red Diamonds, Nagoya Grampus, Tochigi SC, FC Gifu – 1997–2014 Bruno Suzuki – Albirex Niigata, Machida Zelvia, FC Gifu – 2009–2012, 2016 Daishiro Yoshimura – Cerezo Osaka – 1967–1980 Erikson Noguchipinto – Oita Trinita, Sagan Tosu, Kashiwa Reysol, Avispa Fukuoka, Chaneaule Koriyama, Nagano Parceiro – 2001–2009 George Kobayashi – Cerezo Osaka – 1971–1976 George Yonashiro – Tokyo Verdy – 1972–1986 Leonardo Moreira – Japan Soccer College, Sagan Tosu, Tokyo Verdy, Tochigi SC, Giravanz Kitakyushu, Blaublitz Akita, ReinMeer Aomori, Maruyasu Okazaki – 2005–2020 Marcus Tulio Tanaka – Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Mito HollyHock, Urawa Red Diamonds, Nagoya Grampus, Kyoto Sanga – 2001–2020 Ruy Ramos – Tokyo Verdy, Kyoto Sanga – 1977–1998 Wagner Lopes – Yokohama F. Marinos, Kashiwa Reysol, Honda FC, Shonan Bellmare, FC Tokyo, Avispa Fukuoka – 1987–2002 Dido Havenaar – Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Tokyo Verdy, Nagoya Grampus, Júbilo Iwata, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 1986–1998 Michael Fitzgerald – Albirex Niigata, Japan Soccer College, Zweigen Kanazawa, V-Varen Nagasaki, Kawasaki Frontale – 2008– Edwin Uehara – Urawa Red Diamonds, Sagan Tosu – 1992–1996 Frank Romero – Mito HollyHock, Montedio Yamagata, Albirex Niigata, Machida Zelvia, Kagoshima United, Reilac Shiga – 2011– Sergio Escudero – Urawa Red Diamonds, Kyoto Sanga, Tochigi SC, Edo All United – 2005–2012, 2016–2020, 2025– Cayman Togashi – Yokohama F. Marinos, FC Tokyo, Machida Zelvia, V-Varen Nagasaki, Vegalta Sendai, Sagan Tosu – 2015–2024 Daniel Schmidt – Vegalta Sendai, Roasso Kumamoto, Matsumoto Yamaga, Nagoya Grampus – 2014–2019, 2025–

Albania Rudi Vata – Yokohama FC – 2003

Algeria Aymen Tahar – Sagan Tosu – 2016 Raïs M'Bolhi – FC Ryukyu – 2008–2009

Argentina

A Abel Luciatti – Renofa Yamaguchi – 2017 Agustin Ortega – Blaublitz Akita, Esperanza SC – 2015– Alberto Acosta – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1996 C Carlos Mayor – Avispa Fukuoka – 1994–1996 Claudio Biaggio – Avispa Fukuoka – 2001 Claudio Úbeda – Tokyo Verdy – 2004 D Daniel Ahmed – Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 1992 Darío Figueroa – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1996 David Bisconti – Yokohama F. Marinos, Avispa Fukuoka, Sagan Tosu – 1993–1996, 2000–2002 Diego Rodríguez – JEF United Chiba – 2018 E Eduardo Bustos Montoya – Avispa Fukuoka – 2000 F Félix Dalmás – Laranja Kyoto, SP Kyoto – 2010–2013 Fernando Moner – Yokohama Flügels, Yokohama FC – 1988–1991, 1993–1994, 2002–2003 Fernando Oliva – Shimizu S-Pulse – 1996–2001 Flavio Zandoná – Avispa Fukuoka – 2000 Franco Sbuttoni – Sagan Tosu – 2017 G Gustavo Zapata – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1993–1996 H Héctor Enrique – Sagan Tosu, FPI Hamamatsu – 1994–1997 Hugo Maradona – Sagan Tosu, Avispa Fukuoka, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 1992–1998 J Joaquín Larrivey – JEF United Chiba – 2017–2018 Jorge Sebastián Núñez – Nagoya Grampus, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 2005–2006 Juan Forlín – Jubilo Iwata – 2020–2021 Julio Hernán Rossi – Avispa Fukuoka – 1997 L Leandro Desábato – Cerezo Osaka, Vegalta Sendai – 2019–2022 Leonardo Ramos –Renofa Yamaguchi – 2017 Luciano Romero – Renofa Yamaguchi – 2016 Luis Ojeda – JEF United Chiba – 2017 M Marcelo Carracedo – Avispa Fukuoka – 1997 Marcelo Morales – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1993 Marcelo Trivisonno – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1992–1993 Marcelo Vidal – Renofa Yamaguchi – 2017 Martín Vilallonga – Avispa Fukuoka – 2001 Mauro dos Santos – Albirex Niigata – 2020 N Nahuel Cisneros – Esperanza SC – 2022 Néstor Gorosito – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1996 Nestor Omar Piccoli – Yokohama Flügels, Avispa Fukuoka – 1987–1990, 1992–1995 Nicolás Orsini – Tokushima Vortis, Fagiano Okayama – 2016–2018 O Oscar Acosta – Yokohama Flügels – 1991 Osvaldo Escudero – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1991–1992 P Pablo Bastianini – Yokohama F. Marinos – 2010–2011 Pablo Ortega – Esperanza SC – 2016– Patricio Mac Allister – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1991–1992 Pedro Massacessi – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1995 Pedro Pasculli – Sagan Tosu – 1994 Pedro Troglio – Avispa Fukuoka – 1994–1996 R Ramón Díaz – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1993–1995 Ramón Medina Bello – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1994–1995 Raul Maldonado – Yokohama F. Marinos – 2000 S Sebastián Riep – Avispa Fukuoka – 1997 Sergio Batista – Sagan Tosu – 1993–1994 Sergio Escudero – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1992 Sergio Vázquez – Avispa Fukuoka – 1997 Silvio Rudman – Yokohama Flügels – 1992 T Tomás Moschión – FC Imabari – 2024 V Victor Ferreyra – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1993

Australia

A Adam Taggart – Cerezo Osaka – 2021–2022 Alex Brosque – Shimizu S-Pulse – 2011–2012 Alvin Ceccoli – Avispa Fukuoka – 2007 Andre Takami – Brew Kashima – 2023 Andrew Nabbout – Urawa Red Diamonds – 2018–2019 Aurelio Vidmar – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 1998–1999

B Ben Duncan – Ehime FC – 2023–2025 Ben Halloran – V-Varen Nagasaki – 2018 Billy Celeski – Ventforet Kofu – 2016 Billy Konstantinidis – Ventforet Kofu – 2017 C Chay Hews – Shonan Bellmare – 1999 D Dan Hall – JEF United Chiba – 2026– Diogo Ferreira – Tochigi SC – 2018 E Eddy Bosnar – JEF United Chiba, Shimizu S-Pulse – 2008–2011 Eli Adams – Gamba Osaka – 2026– G Graham Arnold – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 1997–1999 H Hayden Foxe – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 1998–2000 J Jade North – FC Tokyo, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 2011–2012 Jason Geria – JEF United Chiba, Albirex Niigata – 2018–2021, 2025– Joe Caletti – Tochigi City – 2022–2023, 2025– Joel Griffiths – Avispa Fukuoka – 2008 Jonas Markovski – FC Osaka – 2024 Joshua Kennedy – Nagoya Grampus – 2009–2014 Jackson Irvine – Cerezo Osaka - 2026–

K Kusini Yengi – Cerezo Osaka, Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 2026–

L Lucas Neill – RB Omiya Ardija – 2013 Luka Didulica – Urawa Red Diamonds – 2025– M Mark Milligan – JEF United Chiba – 2010–2012 Matthew Bingley – Vissel Kobe, JEF United Chiba – 1997–1998 Matthew Spiranovic – Urawa Red Diamonds – 2010–2012 Max King – Tiamo Hirakata – 2020–2021 Miloš Degenek – Yokohama F. Marinos – 2017–2018 Mitch Duke – Shimizu S-Pulse, Fagiano Okayama, Machida Zelvia – 2015–2018, 2021–2025 Mitch Nichols – Cerezo Osaka – 2014–2015 Mitchell Langerak – Nagoya Grampus – 2018–2024 N Nathan Burns – FC Tokyo, Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 2015–2017 Ned Zelic – JEF United Chiba, Urawa Red Diamonds – 2002–2003 O Oliver Bozanic – Ventforet Kofu – 2017 P Phil Stubbins – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 1999 Pierce Waring – Cerezo Osaka – 2018–2021 R Ryan Wood – Sports & Society Izu – 2023 S Stefan Mauk – Fagiano Okayama – 2022–2023 Stephen Laybutt – Shonan Bellmare – 1999 Steve Corica – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 2000–2001 T Tando Velaphi – Shonan Bellmare, Kochi United – 2016–2017, 2022–2023 Tete Yengi – Machida Zelvia – 2026- Thomas Deng – Urawa Red Diamonds, Albirex Niigata, Yokohama F. Marinos – 2020– Tom Glover – RB Omiya Ardija – 2026– Tom Heward-Belle – Montedio Yamagata – 2025– Tony Popovic – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – 1997–2000

U Ufuk Talay – Avispa Fukuoka – 2008 W Westel Kaur – Laranja Kyoto – 2018

Austria Ivica Vastić – Nagoya Grampus – 2002–2003 Mario Haas – JEF United Chiba – 2005–2006 Michael Baur – Urawa Red Diamonds – 1997 Mladen Jutrić – Ehime FC – 2019

Barbados Peter Hinds – Shonan Bellmare – 1988–1989

Belarus Sergei Aleinikov – Gamba Osaka – 1993–1996

Belgium Jan Van den Bergh – Júbilo Iwata – 2025– Jordy Croux – Avispa Fukuoka, Cerezo Osaka, Júbilo Iwata, Yokohama F. Marinos – 2021– Kevin Oris – Kyoto Sanga – 2017 Lorenzo Staelens – Oita Trinita – 2001 Thomas Vermaelen – Vissel Kobe – 2019–2021

Bolivia Edivaldo Hermoza – Shonan Bellmare – 2013 Julio César Baldivieso – Yokohama F. Marinos – 1997–1998 Víctor Hugo Antelo – Shonan Bellmare – 1990 Yuto Baigorria – Fagiano Okayama – 2025–2026

Bosnia and Herzegovina Albin Pelak – Cerezo Osaka – 2003 Aleksandar Perendija – Nagoya SC – 2018, 2020 Alen Avdić – Avispa Fukuoka – 2002 Almir Turković – Cerezo Osaka – 2002 Edin Mujčin – JEF United Chiba – 2001–2002 Ivan Radeljić – Cerezo Osaka – 2004 Mirko Hrgović – Gamba Osaka, JEF United Chiba – 2001, 2008 Nermin Haskić – RB Omiya Ardija – 2019–2021 Rade Bogdanović – JEF United Chiba – 1997 Srđan Pecelj – Shimizu S-Pulse – 2002

Brazil

A Abelha – Honda FC – 1989–1991 Abuda – FC Gifu, Tokyo Verdy – 2012, 2014 Adaílton – Júbilo Iwata, FC Tokyo, Ventforet Kofu, Yokohama FC – 2015–2024, 2025– Adalto – Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo − 2001 Ademilson – Yokohama F. Marinos, Gamba Osaka, Machida Zelvia – 2015–2020, 2023 Adhemar – Yokohama F. Marinos – 2005 Adi Rocha – Gamba Osaka – 2013 Adiel – Urawa Red Diamonds, Shonan Bellmare – 2000, 2006–2011 Adílson – Júbilo Iwata – 1987–1989 Adilson Batista – Júbilo Iwata – 1997–1999 Adriano – Cerezo Osaka, Tokushima Vortis, Ventforet Kofu – 2010, 2014, 2015 Adriano Oliveira – Shonan Bellmare – 2009 Adriano Pimenta – Nagoya Grampus, Yokohama FC – 2001, 2007 Adriel – Gainare Tottori – 2019–2020 Afonso – Gamba Osaka – 2011 Agenor – SC Sagamihara – 2021 Aílton – Kawasaki Frontale – 2001 Aílton Ferraz – Kashiwa Reysol – 1993–1994 Alair – Ventforet Kofu, Ehime FC, Kyoto Sanga – 2002–2006, 2009–2013 Alan – Giravanz Kitakyushu, Fujieda MYFC, Dezzolla Shimane, ReinMeer Aomori – 2008–2015 Alan Bahia – Vissel Kobe – 2009 Alan Cariús – Kyoto Sanga – 2022–2023 Alan Dotti – Montedio Yamagata – 1999 Alan Mineiro – Albirex Niigata – 2012 Alan Pinheiro – Kawasaki Frontale, Tokyo Verdy, JEF United Chiba – 2013, 2015–2020 Alberto – Ventforet Kofu – 2007 Alceu – Kashiwa Reysol, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, Montedio Yamagata – 2007–2010, 2015–2017 Alcindo – Kashima Antlers, Tokyo Verdy, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 1993–1996 Aldro – Gamba Osaka, Yokohama Flügels, Montedio Yamagata – 1990–1997 Alê – Cerezo Osaka – 2007–2008 Alemão – Kyoto Sanga – 2005–2006 Alessandro – Albirex Niigata, Kyoto Sanga – 2008, 2014 Alessandro Cambalhota – Júbilo Iwata – 1997–1998 Alex – Cerezo Osaka – 1997 Alex – Oita Trinita – 1999 Alex – Ventforet Kofu – 2001 Alex – Kawasaki Frontale, Avispa Fukuoka, Kashiwa Reysol, JEF United Chiba, Kashima Antlers, Tokushima Vortis, Kamatamare Sanuki – 2002–2018 Alex Garcia – RB Omiya Ardija – 2001 Alex Henrique – Avispa Fukuoka, Thespa Gunma, Tokyo Verdy – 2009, 2010–2012 Alex Martins – Shonan Bellmare, Fukushima United, Kagoshima United, Tochigi SC – 2012, 2016–2018 Alex Mineiro – Kashima Antlers – 2005–2006 Alex Muralha – Shonan Bellmare, Albirex Niigata – 2013, 2018 Alex Oliveira – Ventforet Kofu – 2005 Alex Rafael – Thespa Gunma – 2012 Alexandre – Avispa Fukuoka – 2006 Alex Souza – Kyoto Sanga – 2026– Alexandre Balotelli – SC Sagamihara – 2016 Alexandre Finazzi – RB Omiya Ardija – 2003 Alexandre Goulart – Shimizu S-Pulse – 2006–2007 Alexandre Lopes – Tokyo Verdy – 2002–2003 Alexandre Torres – Nagoya Grampus – 1995–1999 Alison – RB Omiya Ardija – 2006–2007 Alison – Shonan Bellmare – 2015 Allan – Reilac Shiga, Kamatamare Sanuki, Zweigen Kanazawa, Esperanza SC – 2008–2022 Allano – Ventforet Kofu – 2019 Allisson Ricardo – Matsumoto Yamaga – 2012 Almir – Shonan Bellmare – 1994–1996 Almir – Tokushima Vortis, FC Tokyo, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo – 1995–1996, 1998–2001 Álvaro – Montedio Yamagata, Matsumoto Yamaga – 2018–2020 Amaral – FC Tokyo, Shonan Bellmare, Arte Takasaki, FC Kariya – 1992–2007, 2009 Amaral – Cerezo Osaka – 2010 Amarildo – Shonan Bellmare – 2006