is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Japan national team.
Club career Watanabe joined J1 League club FC Tokyo in 2018. On 4 January 2021, he started for FC Tokyo in the final of the J.League Cup against Kashiwa Reysol. FC Tokyo won 2–1 to claim the third J.League Cup in club history.
On 28 December 2021, Watanabe signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with KV Kortrijk in Belgium. On 1 July 2023, Watanabe moved to fellow Pro League club KAA Gent on a permanent deal for a fee of €3,500,000.
On 23 July 2025, Watanabe joined Dutch side Feyenoord on a four-year contract. On 12 August, he scored his first two goals for the club in a 5–2 defeat to Turkish sideFenerbahçe in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
International career On 1 January 2024, Watanabe was selected by manager Hajime Moriyasu as a member of the Japan squad at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
On 15 May 2026, Watanabe was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFC Tokyo2019J1 League2022091—3122020J1 League2820030703822021J1 League2710071—342Total75510192701037Kortrijk2021–22Belgian Pro League7020——902022–23Belgian Pro League34100——341Total41120——431Gent2023–24Belgian Pro League36220—1415232024–25Belgian Pro League34210—131483Total70430—2721006Feyenoord2025–26Eredivisie30210—833952026–27Eredivisie6000—1070Total36210—93465Career total222128019243529218
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan201910202310202410202550202650Total130
Honours FC Tokyo J.League Cup: 2020
References
External links