[Player Profile #17] Ito Junya | The 33-Year-Old Self-Made Star from a Street Club, Proving His Absolute Dominance on the Right Wing as a Joker
A deep dive into Ito Junya (33, from Yokosuka, Kanagawa), who carries the mantle of absolute right-wing dominance at KRC Genk. We trace his self-made journey—from a local street club, public high school, and Kanagawa University to Kashiwa Reysol, Genk, RC Lens, and back to Genk—along with his role as World Cup qualifying assist king and his match-winning goal against Scotland on March 29.
Junya Ito, 33. He returned to KRC Genk in August 2025 for the first time in six years, and in the 2025/26 season has recorded 4 goals and 2 assists in 18 league appearances. In the Kirin World Challenge match against Scotland on March 29, 2026, he came off the bench in the second half and scored the winning goal in the 84th minute; three days later, on March 31, he started against England and helped Japan secure back-to-back away victories. With WC 2026 now less than two months away, we take stock of the expectations resting on his shoulders and the challenges he must overcome.
menu_book Basic Profile
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 9, 1993 (age 33) |
| Birthplace | Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Height / Weight | 176 cm / 66 kg |
| Position | FW / MF (Right Wing / Right Wing-Back) |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Club | KRC Genk (Jupiler Pro League / Belgium) |
| Squad Number | Club: 10 / National Team: 14 |
| International Career | Senior debut in 2017; 68 caps, 15 goals. 2022 Qatar World Cup Round of 16, AFC Asian Cup 2019 runner-up & 2023, WC 2026 Final Qualifying Round assist leader |
arrow_forward His Hometown
Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a port city of approximately 380,000 people situated in the center of the Miura Peninsula. Home to a U.S. naval base, it has an international character, while its hilly terrain and intricate coastline give the city a distinctive geography. Bordering Yokohama—home turf of Yokohama F. Marinos and Yokohama FC—to the south, it is a fiercely competitive youth football hub with a dense network of junior clubs.
The Kamoi district, where Ito spent his early childhood, lies in the northeastern part of Yokosuka Port, and he played for local club Kamoi SC from 1999 to 2004. When he moved up to junior high school, he suffered the bitter experience of failing the Yokohama F. Marinos JY trial, but found his footing at the local Yokosuka Seagulls JY. His rise through the "local club → public school → university" route—far removed from any elite pathway—is inseparable from the grounded, no-nonsense spirit that defines Yokosuka. The leg strength he built on the area's undulating terrain laid the foundation for his explosive 50-metre sprint time of 5.8 seconds. His performances at the World Cup finals will be a source of immense pride for the city of Yokosuka.
calendar_month Career Timeline by Age
| Age | Period | Club / Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 | 1999–2002 | Yokosuka Municipal Obaradai Elementary School / Begins playing football at Kamoi SC |
| 10–12 | 2002–2004 | Key player at Kamoi SC. Fails Yokohama F. Marinos JY trial in final year of primary school |
| 13–15 | 2005–2007 | Yokosuka Seagulls JY. Unknown player with no representative honours |
| 16–18 | 2008–2010 | Kanagawa Prefectural Zuyō High School. Attends public school per family policy; no national tournament experience |
| 19–22 | 2011–2014 | Kanagawa University. Talent blossoms in Kanto University League; designated player for Kofu in fourth year |
| 22–25 | 2015–2018 | Ventforet Kofu → Kashiwa Reysol. 101 appearances and 19 goals at Kashiwa |
| 25–29 | 2019–2022 (summer) | KRC Genk. Contributes to Belgian league title in 2019 season; 78 appearances, 19 goals |
| 29–32 | 2022 (summer)–2025 (summer) | Stade de Reims (France). 99 appearances, 13 goals; assist leader in Final Qualifying Round |
| 32– | August 2025–present | Returns to KRC Genk (squad number 10, 3-year contract) |
local_fire_department 2025/26 Season: Adapting to a Super-Sub Role at Genk, Six Years On
In August 2025, Ito returned to KRC Genk for the first time in six years, signing a three-year contract and taking the number 10 shirt. In the 2025/26 season he has posted 4 goals and 2 assists in 18 league appearances, and scored his first goal since rejoining in the CL qualifying match against Lechia Poznań.
He suffered a right hamstring injury in the Brazil friendly in October and was sidelined for approximately two and a half months, but returned to action in the Club Brugge match on December 26, scoring just four minutes after being introduced in the 72nd minute for a dramatic comeback.
| Season | Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/23 | Stade de Reims | 34 | 6 | 6 |
| 23/24 | Stade de Reims | 32 | 3 | 4 |
| 24/25 | Stade de Reims | 33 | 4 | 5 |
| 25/26 | KRC Genk | 18 | 4 | 2 |
The most recent highlight came in the Kirin World Challenge match against Scotland in March 2026. With the score goalless at the 78-minute mark, manager Moriyas introduced Ito as part of an ultra-attacking tactical change, and in the 84th minute Ito calmly converted after a move involving Kaoru Mitoma, Junnosuke Suzuki, and Kento Shiobae, scoring the winning goal. He was the key figure in an away victory over a World Cup-qualified nation in Japan's opening match of the World Cup year.
sports_soccer International Career — Right-Side Wildcard and Final Qualifying Round Assist Leader
Ito made his international debut in 2017. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup he featured in all of Japan's Group E matches, contributing to the Round of 16 run that included victories over Germany and Spain—most notably assisting Ritsu Doan's equaliser against Spain through his pressing that forced the turnover.
In 2024 he stepped away from the national team amid a personal conduct issue, but following a non-prosecution decision in August of that year he returned to the squad in September for the WC Asian Final Qualifying Round. In that campaign he finished as the assist leader with 10 assists, playing a decisive role in Japan's qualification. In the two-match European tour in March 2026, he scored the winner against Scotland and started against England, contributing both offensively and defensively in crucial pre-World Cup warmups. He is firmly established as Japan's go-to option on the right flank under Moriyasu.
star Junya Ito in One Phrase — "World-Class Speed" Meets "Right-Side Indispensability"
Two keywords are essential for understanding Ito.
| Keyword | How It Manifests in Play |
|---|---|
| World-class speed | Explosive acceleration over 50 metres in 5.8 seconds / dribbling by pushing the ball ahead then outrunning defenders / precise command of pace and tempo |
| Right-side indispensability / crossing accuracy | Decision to cross before beating the defender / accurate delivery of both grounded and driven balls / sustained quality as Final Qualifying Round assist leader |
The significance of combining both qualities is clear: Ito always has the option of delivering the ball to a teammate before even attempting to beat his man, not just bursting past defenders with pace. That is precisely why he is effective on the right side at the highest level.
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. Ito is expected to play the role of a right-side super-sub, or to start and make the difference with his speed and crossing.
| Opponent | Left-Side Defensive Characteristics | Ito's Expected Role |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Left-back candidate Van de Ven (Tottenham) is a natural CB; when deployed on the left, he can be unsettled in pace battles | Use vertical duels and explosive acceleration to leave the left-back behind |
| Sweden | Typically Scandinavian organised defence and counter-attack; left side tucks inward defensively | Threaten with runs down the line and early crosses to stretch them horizontally |
| Tunisia | Disciplined block defence with a compact midfield | Supply crosses from counters, make runs in behind from deep positions to break through |
live_tv Social Media & Media Presence
Ito's communication style is reserved and cool. His Instagram account @1409junya open_in_new (approximately 670,000 followers) is updated steadily with on- and off-pitch moments at club and international level. He also remains active on X (formerly Twitter) at @ItouJky open_in_new.
His media manner is defined by short, incisive remarks. Post-match comments such as "I can show my qualities better against strong opponents" are candid and reflect clear self-awareness. His willingness to take part in official club interviews since his Kashiwa Reysol days speaks to a well-grounded professionalism.
info The Challenge Ahead: Managing Age and Physical Condition
Age and physical maintenance—these two points sum up Ito's biggest challenge. He will be 33 when the World Cup finals begin, and for a player whose primary weapon is explosive speed, maintaining peak physical condition is absolutely critical.
Having suffered a hamstring injury in the Brazil match in October 2025 and missed roughly two and a half months, the hamstring remains a high-risk area for recurrence. Manager Moriyasu has opted to use him increasingly as a second-half impact substitute for big opponents—he scored the winner against Scotland after coming on in the second half as well. With Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo, Yukinari Sugawara, and others competing for the right side of Japan's attack, the final mission assigned to Ito is to make a difference in limited time when the tournament begins.
最終更新: 2026-04-30