[Player Profile #19] Joma Fujita Chima | The Half-and-Half Dynamo Who Captained Japan at Paris 2024, Mapping a Versatile Future in the Bundesliga
A deep dive into Joma Fujita Chima (24, from Machida, Tokyo), rated as a 'utility player' in our projected 26-man squad. Born to a Nigerian father and a Japanese mother, he captained Japan at the Paris Olympics. After transferring to FC St. Pauli in July 2025, his market value has tripled.
Joel Fujita Chima, 24 years old. A half-Japanese, half-Nigerian dynamo — his father is Nigerian and his mother is Japanese — who captained the Japan national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In July 2025, he transferred from Sint-Truiden to FC St. Pauli, with his market value tripling from what it was at signing. He is described as "polyvalent" in our projected 26-man squad. With WC 2026 now roughly two months away, we take stock of the expectations he carries and the challenges he must overcome.
menu_book Basic Profile
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 16, 2002 (age 24) |
| Hometown | Machida, Tokyo |
| Roots | Nigerian father (Igbo) / Japanese mother |
| Height / Weight | 175 cm / 76 kg |
| Position | MF (Anchor / Inside Half / CB also possible) |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Club | FC St. Pauli (Bundesliga / Germany) |
| Jersey Number | Club: 16 / National Team: 6 |
| Japan National Team | Senior debut 2022, 8 caps 0 goals. 2024 Paris Olympics captain / quarterfinalist; U-23 Asian Cup MVP |
_The image above is a group photo of the U-23 Japan national team before the Japan vs. Spain match at the Paris Olympics on 2024-08-02. A Wikimedia Commons image used in this player column._
arrow_forward Getting to Know His Hometown
Machida, Tokyo, a commuter city on the border of Kanagawa Prefecture, has a thriving football culture. It is home to Machida Zelvia (J2), and boasts a rich youth football scene with clubs like FC Tripletta and Pegasus FC. "Machida Okura FC", where Fujita spent his early years, is a local youth club; the nearby Tsurukawa and Yamazaki areas have long been deeply rooted in football culture within Machida.
His father, inspired by Nigeria's gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, bought young Chima a ball when he was three years old. The name "Chima" is a common Igbo name meaning "only God knows", and his mother wrote it using the kanji 譲瑪. His Nigerian × Japanese roots manifest in his physical core strength and aerial and physical dueling ability, making him capable of holding his own against larger European players despite standing just 175 cm. His performance at the World Cup will be a source of pride for the city of Machida.
calendar_month Career Timeline by Age
| Age | Period | Club / Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| 6–11 | 2008–2013 | Began football at Machida Okura FC (local youth club) |
| 12–14 | 2014–2016 | Tokyo Verdy Junior Youth / Machida Municipal Tsurukawa Junior High School |
| 15–17 | 2017–2019 | Tokyo Verdy Youth / Tokyo Metropolitan Yamazaki High School |
| 17– | 2019/8–2020 | Tokyo Verdy (J2, Category 2 registration → official promotion) |
| 19 | 2021 | Tokushima Vortis (J1, loan) |
| 20–21 | 2022–2023/7 | Yokohama F. Marinos (J1). 2022 J1 champions |
| 21–23 | 2023/7–2025/6 | Sint-Truiden VV (Belgian First Division). 58 appearances, 11 goals |
| 23– | 2025/7–present | FC St. Pauli (Bundesliga). The club's 3rd Japanese player in history |
local_fire_department 2025/26 Season: Bundesliga Debut Sees Market Value Triple
In July 2025, he transferred from Sint-Truiden to Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli, becoming the club's third Japanese player in history and taking the number 16 shirt. In the 2025/26 season, he has established himself as a key player with approximately 20 appearances, 1 goal, and 3 assists, an average FotMob rating of 7.01, and 2,356 minutes played.
His market value has soared from €3.5 million (approx. ¥600 million) at the time of signing to €10 million (approx. ¥1.9 billion) as of April 2026, a remarkable rise in his debut Bundesliga season. Head coach Blessin has praised his "courage and clarity" and his ability to sense space.
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/23 | Yokohama FM | J1 | Key | — |
| 23/24 | Sint-Truiden | Belgian First Division | Key | — |
| 24/25 | Sint-Truiden | Belgian First Division | Key | — |
| 25/26 | St. Pauli | Bundesliga | ~20 | 1 |
However, it cannot be overlooked that German local newspaper MOPO has pointed out that his playing time has been trending downward toward the end of the season, with him only appearing for the first half against Heidenheim in April 2026.
sports_soccer International Career — Paris Olympics Captain and the Background to His "Polyvalent" Label
Fujita made his international debut in 2022. He has earned 8 senior caps with 0 goals, appearing whenever called up, including in the March 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
However, it was the 2024 Paris Olympics that truly made his name. Appointed captain by head coach Tsuyoshi Oiwa, Fujita led the team through the group stage as winners before their run ended with a quarterfinal defeat to Spain. In the preceding U-23 Asian Cup, he contributed to Japan's title win and was awarded Tournament MVP.
There are three reasons why we have labeled him "polyvalent" in our projected squad. First, he can play across three positions: anchor (no. 6), inside midfielder (no. 8), and CB. Second, he combines interception ability (in the 8th percentile in the Belgian First Division during his time at Sint-Truiden) with quality vertical passing. Third, he has an undeniable track record as a second-tier midfield shield type in Moriyasu's Japan.
star Joel Fujita Chima in One Phrase — "Half Dynamo" and "Balancer" in One
There are two key words essential to understanding Fujita.
| Keyword | How It Shows in His Play |
|---|---|
| Half Dynamo | Nigerian × Japanese core strength and physical dueling / an engine that runs for 90 minutes / explosive acceleration the moment he wins the ball |
| Balancer (Polyvalent) | Capable in three roles — anchor, inside midfielder, CB / turns and vertical passes using his core strength / attacking involvement timed to the flow of the game |
The significance of combining both is clear — he can complete complex midfield tasks solo while also filling in at CB when the situation demands it. This is precisely the rationale behind Moriyasu's Japan selecting Fujita as a joker-type substitute.
favorite Expectations at WC 2026 — The Key to Japan Breaking Out of Group F
Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Fujita is expected to play a joker role making use of his positional versatility, as well as being deployed in emergencies as a midfield or CB replacement during key matches.
| Opponent | Midfield Characteristics | Expected Role for Fujita |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Variable 4-3-3, dynamic rotation | Anchor role to seal the center, creating counter-attack opportunities through interceptions |
| Sweden | Physically oriented, strong at set-piece attacks | Winning second balls despite standing 175 cm thanks to core strength; flexibility as an alternative CB option |
| Tunisia | African side's individual skill, compact defensive block | Interception ability comes into play. Physical dueling against African players also holds no fear, forged through his Nigerian roots |
live_tv Social Media & Media Presence
Fujita's communication style is analytical and ambitious. His Instagram @joel_fujita0216 open_in_new is carefully updated with on- and off-pitch moments for both club and country. While an official X (formerly Twitter) account in his name has not been confirmed, his mother Keiko Fujita's fan support account can be found through word of mouth.
A notable aspect of his media persona is his openly stated ambition to move to the Premier League by age 25–26. In a long-form interview with Number Web, he revealed that as a boy he idolized the passing play of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Özil — a side of him that speaks to an intellectual, thoughtful personality.
info Challenges to Overcome: "Playing Time and Pecking Order in the National Team"
Playing time and his place in the national team hierarchy — Fujita's challenges can be summed up in these two points. His playing time at St. Pauli has been shrinking as the season draws to a close from April 2026, and he had the painful experience of being used only for the first half against Heidenheim.
Turning to the national team, veterans Hidemasa Morita, Wataru Endo, and Ao Tanaka occupy the anchor/defensive midfielder positions, leaving Fujita one step behind his seniors in terms of experience. While the "polyvalent" label is a strength, it is also two sides of the same coin as the risk of never quite pinning down a starting spot when it matters most. His final mission is to show head coach Moriyasu just how useful he can be as a joker option — at the Kirin Challenge Cup against Iceland on May 31st, and throughout the training camp on location.