Football Season Guide

J2 League

Japan

J2 League

2025

JEF United Chiba

In

José Aurelio Suárez (gk) Tokushima Vortis; Tomoya Wakahara (gk) Kyoto Sanga; Haruto Usui (gk) Matsumoto Yamaga; Michiya Okamoto (gk) Yokohama SCC; Takashi Kawano (def) Blaubitz Akita; Koji Toriumi (def) Cerezo Osaka; Yuta Ueda (def) Kyoto Sanga – on loan; Takayuki Mae (def) Renofa Yamaguchi; Takuya Yasui (mid) Machida Zelvia; Manato Shinada (mid) FC Tokyo – loan made permanent; Yuma Igari (mid) Sanno University; Gentaro Yoshida (mid) Sanuki; Takuro Iwai (mid) Juntendo University; Naohiro Sugiyama (mid) Gamba Osaka – loan made permanent; Derek (att) Atletico GO – on loan; Daichi Ishikawa (att) Roasso Kumamoto;

Out

Hiiro Komori (k) (att) Sint-Truiden – on loan; Kazuki Fujita (r) (gk) Albirex Niigata – end of loan; Shogo Sasaki (r) (def) Gamba Osaka; Mendes (sp) (def) released; Daiki Ogawa (sp) (def) Jubilo Iwata – end of loan; Ryuta Shimmyo (sp) (mid) Hirakata – on loan; Toshiyuki Takagi (sp) (att) Tokyo United; Dudu (sp) (att) released; Yuya Aoshima (gk) Tochigi – end of loan; Toru Takagiwa (gk) Imabari; Shuntaro Yaguchi (def) Okinawa – on loan; Shuto Okaniwa (def) FC Tokyo – end of loan; Kohei Yamakoshi (def) Tokyo Verdy – end of loan; Taichi Sakuma (att) released;

JEF United suffered a painful finish to 2024. They missed out on a play-off spot on the final day of the season. Back-to-back defeats in the last 2 rounds meant that JEF stayed 3 points outside the top 6. Hiiro Komori won the Golden Boot in J2 with his 22 league goals. Expectedly, he left for Europe (Belgium) so now JEF will have to find these goals elsewhere. Solid striker Daichi Ishikawa and Brazilian Derek were signed to replace Komori in attack. Both should see lots of use and both are capable of having 10+ goals season. JEF were one of the best home teams last year, won 10 of their last 13 home league games, their away form left a lot to be desired though. This was strange considering JEF had the second-best record for goals scored from set pieces. Only the defenders contributed 9 goals between them after corner-kick deliveries. The only notable departure from the back line is that of Shogo Sasaki. However, if anything the signing of centre-backs Koji Toriumi and Takashi Kawano is seen as an upgrade on what was shaky defence at times in 2024, had the worst defensive record in the top 11. Will have a new main goalie too. Suarez is also seen as an improvement on the young Kazuki Fujita who made some bad mistakes last year. No major changes happened in midfield. In that area experienced Taishi Taguchi and Akiyuki Yokoyama, 11 goals and 10 assists between them in 2024, will once again be key figures. Starting their 16th consecutive season in J2 JEF are hungry to finally get back to the top flight. Their last campaign in J1 was way back in 2009.

Target

Determined to push for promotion. Not likely to make the top 2 but with a good chance to sneak into the play-offs this year.