Japanese · Kobe, Japan · Born 17 March 1989Japan's most naturally gifted modern midfielder, whose dribbling brilliance and technical mastery earned him success at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.
Shinji Kagawa was born in Kobe, Japan on 17 March 1989. A technically exquisite attacking midfielder with exceptional dribbling ability and an eye for a clever pass, Kagawa is widely considered the most technically gifted Japanese player of the modern era. He developed at Cerezo Osaka before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2010, where he was a key part of Jürgen Klopp's extraordinary Bundesliga-winning teams in 2011 and 2012, contributing goals and assists across both title-winning seasons. Manchester United paid £16m for him in 2012, and he scored a Premier League hat-trick against Norwich. He returned to Dortmund and later had spells in Spain, Turkey and Belgium. For Japan he earned 97 caps and scored 31 goals, appearing at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups. He was the first Asian player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League.
First Japanese player to score in the Champions League
He scored the first hat-trick by an Asian player in the Bundesliga and was named the Bundesliga Footballer of the Year for 2011-12, cementing his status as the most decorated Japanese player in German football history.
Did You Know?How They Played
Technical attacking midfielder with excellent passing and movement in tight spaces
Lasting Impact
Pioneering Japanese player who achieved success in Europe's top leagues
Career Honours
- Bundesliga 2011, 2012 (Dortmund)
- DFB-Pokal 2012 (Dortmund)
- AFC Asian Cup 2011
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerezo Osaka | 2021–2023 | 125 | 16 | #10 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2010–2012 | 90 | 13 | #9 |
| Manchester United | 2012–2014 | 85 | 11 | #9 |
| Real Zaragoza | 2019–2021 | 75 | 8 | #9 |
| PAOK | 2018–2019 | 22 | 3 | — |
| Besiktas | 2018–2019 | 21 | 3 | — |
 Japan | — | 97 | 31 | — |
Japanese Athletes