is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre back or a defensive midfielder for J1 League club Mito HollyHock.
Career
Kimoto joined Cerezo Osaka from Fukuoka University in 2016 and was initially assigned to Cerezo Osaka U-23. He scored his first professional league goal on his first team debut for Cerezo Osaka, scoring the winning goal in the 90th+4th minute. On 18 March 2017, Kimoto made his J1 League debut against Sagan Tosu and assisted Kazuya Yamamura's winning goal. On 8 October 2017, in the second leg of the semi-finals of the J.League Cup, Kimoto scored in the 90th+5th minute to send Cerezo Osaka to the first ever final. A few weeks after the match, he was quoted as saying: "I want to win and keep playing in the games". Cerezo would go on to win the J League Cup.
On 24 December 2020, Kimoto was announced at Nagoya Grampus on a permanent transfer. On 15 May 2021, his Nagoya teammate and captain Yuichi Maruyama was injured against Shimizu S-Pulse, and Kimoto was substituted on as his replacement.
On 19 December 2021, Kimoto was announced at FC Tokyo on a permanent transfer. He joined the team that his role model, Masato Morishige, plays for. Kimoto said: "I don't think it's an easy wall to overcome. It will be difficult, but I need to use my footwork, which is my forte, to perform better than Morishige.".
Style of play
Kimoto can play as a center back or defensive midfielder, and is noted for his passing skills.
Club statistics .Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 148 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, (p. 172 out of 289)
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsJapan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup AFC TotalCerezo Osaka2016J2 League1110––212017J1 League23241133–406201822020202028020192902040–35020202800030–310Total103391223201367Cerezo Osaka U-23 (loan)2016J3 League231–––231Nagoya Grampus2021J1 League320405170481FC Tokyo20222112010–241Career total17951512849023110
Honours Nagoya Grampus J.League Cup: 2021
References
External links Profile at FC Tokyo