| Kodai Tanaka | |
| Fullname: | Kodai Tanaka |
| Birth Date: | 23 December 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Kanagawa, Japan |
| Height: | 1.76 m |
| Currentclub: | Balestier Khalsa |
| Clubnumber: | 10 |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthyears1: | –2014 |
| Youthclubs1: | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Youthyears2: | 2015–2017 |
| Youthclubs2: | Tokai Univ. Kofu High School |
| Collegeyears1: | 2018–2021 |
| College1: | Takushoku University |
| Years1: | 2022 |
| Clubs1: | Albirex Niigata (S) |
| Caps1: | 28 |
| Goals1: | 33 |
| Clubs2: | Lion City Sailors |
| Years2: | 2023 |
| Caps2: | 3 |
| Goals2: | 3 |
| Clubs3: | Balestier Khalsa |
| Years3: | 2024– |
| Caps3: | 14 |
| Goals3: | 15 |
| Club-Update: | 28 July 2024 |
is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for Singapore Premier League club Balestier Khalsa.
Kodai won the 2022 Singapore Premier League 'Player Of The Year' and was nominated for 2022 season 'Team Of The Year'. He is known for his finishing in the box and powerful shots with either foot.
Kodai came through the ranks of the Yokohama F. Marinos youth team and then Tokai University Kofu High School and Takushoku University before being picked up by Albirex Niigata Singapore.[1]
Kodai started his professional career with Albirex Niigata (S) in the 2022 Singapore Premier League. In his first 11 matches, he has notched 12 goals, of which 7 had come from headers. As part of Albirex's "LIT" frontline comprising ex-Southampton and Japan man Tadanari Lee, Ilhan Fandi and himself, the trio have combined for 57 goals in 26 league matches - more than five of the other seven teams in the SPL, with Kodai himself notching 31 goals.[2] He ended his first professional season with 5 hat-tricks and as the second top goalscorer in the league, with 33 goals in 28 games.[3]
Alongside Zharfan Rohaizad, Rusyaidi Salime and Shawal Anuar, Kodai joined the Sailors in December 2022.[4]
Kodai started off his season with three goals and two assists. In the next match against his former team on 9 March 2023, he was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.[5] He make his returned on 8 November 2023 coming on as a substitution in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. On 15 December 2023, Lion City Sailors announced that Kodai will leave the club at the end of the 2023 season following the expiry of his contract.
On 8 February 2024, Kodai moved to another Singapore Premier League club, Balestier Khalsa. On 10 May, Kodai scored his first goal for the club on his debut by scoring a brace from a 2–0 deficit to a 2–2 draw against Geylang International on the 2024–25 season opening match. Kodai went on to scored a brace in four consecutive matches on 19 May in a 5–0 win over Tanjong Pagar United, on 24 May in a 4–2 defeat to Tampines Rovers and on 21 June in a 3–3 draw to Hougang United.
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| Club | Season | League | Cup | ACL / AFC | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 2022 | Singapore Premier League | 28 | 33 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 39 | |
| Total | 28 | 33 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 39 | |||
| Lion City Sailors | 2023 | Singapore Premier League | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Balestier Khalsa | 2024–25 | Singapore Premier League | 11 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 15 | |
| Total | 11 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 15 | |||
| Career total | 42 | 51 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 57 | |||