| Motohiko Nakajima 中島 元彦 | |
| Fullname: | Motohiko Nakajima |
| Birth Date: | 18 April 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Osaka, Japan |
| Height: | 1.70 m |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Vegalta Sendai (on loan from Cerezo Osaka) |
| Clubnumber: | 7 |
| Youthyears1: | –2007 |
| Youthclubs1: | Suita Minami FC |
| Youthyears2: | 2008–2017 |
| Youthclubs2: | Cerezo Osaka |
| Years1: | 2016– |
| Clubs1: | Cerezo Osaka |
| Caps1: | 12 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2016–2019 |
| Clubs2: | → Cerezo Osaka U-23 (loan) |
| Caps2: | 78 |
| Goals2: | 19 |
| Years3: | 2020-2021 |
| Clubs3: | → Albirex Niigata (loan) |
| Caps3: | 35 |
| Goals3: | 5 |
| Years4: | 2022- |
| Clubs4: | → Vegalta Sendai (loan) |
| Caps4: | 98 |
| Goals4: | 22 |
| Club-Update: | 30 September 2024 |
is a Japanese football player who plays for Vegalta Sendai, on loan from Cerezo Osaka.J.League Data Site
On 29 September 2017, Nakajima was promoted to the first team.[1] On June 6 2020, it was announced that he would return to Cerezo Osaka for the 2021 season.[2] He made his league debut against Yokohama F. Marinos on 6 April 2021.[3] Nakajima scored his first league goal and his first goal in the J1 League against Avispa Fukuoka on 10 April 2021.[4]
He made his league debut in J3 League v Kagoshima United FC.[5] [6] On 2 December 2018, during the Osaka derby, Nakajima scored and assisted in a 2-0 win.[7]
On 20 July 2020, Nakajima joined Albirex Niigata.[8] He made his league debut against Mito HollyHock on 25 July 2020.[9] Nakajima scored his first league goal against Machida Zelvia on 4 October 2020, scoring in the 45th+1st minute.[10]
On 6 April 2022, Nakajima was announced at Vegalta Sendai.[11] He made his league debut against Renofa Yamaguchi on 10 April 2022.[12] Nakajima scored his first league goal against Zweigen Kanazawa on 15 May 2022, scoring in the 38th minute.[13]
Nakajima won the 2022 MVP of the Year award, as chosen by the supporters.[14]
Nakajima won the May 2024 Meiji Yasuda J2 League MVP award.[15]
In February 2017, Nakajima was selected for the Japan U18s tour of Spain.[16]
Nakajima can play as a midfielder or forward, and has been praised for being able to strike a free kick with either foot well.[17]
Updated to 14 September 2022.[18]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Goals | ||
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 2016 | J3 League | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 10 | 3 | - | - | - | - | — | 10 | 3 | ||||
| 2018 | 31 | 7 | - | - | - | - | — | 31 | 7 | ||||
| 2019 | 34 | 9 | - | - | - | - | — | 34 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 78 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 19 | |||
| Albirex Niigata (loan) | 2020 | J2 League | 35 | 5 | - | - | - | - | — | 35 | 5 | ||
| Cerezo Osaka | 2021 | J1 League | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ー | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |||
| Vegalta Sendai (loan) | 2022 | J2 League | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | - | — | 34 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 158 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 170 | 30 | |||