1. Overview
Jin Izumisawa, born on December 17, 1991, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for FC Gifu. Known for his contributions across various Japanese clubs and a brief stint in Europe, Izumisawa began his professional career with Omiya Ardija in 2014 after being recognized as a promising talent during his university years. He has since played for prominent clubs such as Gamba Osaka, Tokyo Verdy, Pogoń Szczecin in Poland, Yokohama F. Marinos, and Ventforet Kofu, before returning to Omiya Ardija for a second spell and eventually joining FC Gifu. His career is marked by notable club achievements, including winning the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos and the J2 League and J3 League with Omiya Ardija. He also represented Japan at the Universiade, earning a bronze medal.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
2.1. Birth and Personal Information
Jin Izumisawa was born on December 17, 1991, in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He stands 65 in (165 cm) tall and weighs 139 lb (63 kg). His blood type is A, and his dominant foot is his right. He is often affectionately referred to by his nickname, "Jin."
2.2. Youth and University Career
Izumisawa's football journey began at a young age, playing for local clubs such as Shioyaki Wanpaku FC, FC Trim, Matsudo FC (Matsudo Select), and Ichikawa FC (Ichikawa Select). During his junior high school years, he was part of the Kashiwa Reysol U-15 team. Upon graduating from junior high, he had the option to be promoted to Kashiwa's U-18 squad but instead chose to move to Albirex Niigata Youth, believing it would better allow him to develop his individual skills, contrasting with Kashiwa's possession-based style. He played for Albirex Niigata Youth from 2007 to 2009 while attending Kaishi Gakuen High School.
In 2010, Izumisawa enrolled at Hannan University, where he continued his collegiate football career until 2013. During his third year, he was instrumental in Hannan University winning two major titles: the Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1 and the Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Soccer Tournament. He was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league that year, in addition to receiving the Excellent Player Award. His collegiate achievements led to his selection for the All Japan University team. In July 2013, he participated in the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, as part of the Universiade Japan Representative team. He performed notably, including being named Man of the Match in the opening game against Turkey, contributing to Japan's bronze medal victory. In the same month, he was approved as a J. League designated player for Omiya Ardija.
3. Professional Career
Jin Izumisawa's professional career began in 2014, following a period as a designated player, and he has since moved between several clubs, both domestically and internationally.
3.1. Omiya Ardija (2014-2016)
After being a highly sought-after prospect by multiple clubs, Jin Izumisawa officially joined Omiya Ardija in 2014 as a professional player. In his debut season, he made 16 appearances in the J1 League, with 3 appearances in the Emperor's Cup and 4 in the J. League Cup, without scoring a goal. Following the club's relegation in 2014, new manager Hiroki Shibuya provided Izumisawa with significantly more playing opportunities. In 2015, playing in the J2 League, he became a key player on the wing, making 41 league appearances and scoring 7 goals. His significant contributions were crucial in Omiya Ardija's promotion back to J1 and their capture of the J2 League title. In 2016, back in the J1 League, Izumisawa continued to be a vital part of the team, often operating on the flanks alongside Matheus dos Santos Castro, featuring in 30 league matches and scoring 3 goals. He also made 4 appearances and scored 3 goals in the Emperor's Cup, and 7 appearances in the J. League Cup.
3.2. Gamba Osaka (2017-2018)
In 2017, Izumisawa made a full transfer to Gamba Osaka, a prominent club in the J1 League. He made his first start for Gamba Osaka in the ACL 4th match against Jiangsu Suning on April 11. On April 21, he scored his first goal for the club against his former team, Omiya Ardija, in the 8th round of the J1 League. During his time at Gamba Osaka, he played 21 league matches, scoring 2 goals in 2017. He also made 3 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Emperor's Cup, 4 appearances and 2 goals in the J. League Cup, and 6 appearances in the AFC Champions League. In 2018, his appearances were limited to 3 league matches and 3 J. League Cup matches before his departure.
3.3. Tokyo Verdy (loan, 2018)
In June 2018, Izumisawa was loaned to Tokyo Verdy, a club in the J2 League. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the team on August 11, in the 28th round match against Montedio Yamagata. During his loan spell, he made 17 appearances in the J2 League, scoring 3 goals.
3.4. Pogoń Szczecin (2019)
In January 2019, Izumisawa embarked on an overseas challenge, making a full transfer to Pogoń Szczecin, a club in the Ekstraklasa, the top-tier league in Poland. He made a memorable debut, scoring a goal in his first match. However, despite this strong start, he did not receive further playing opportunities. He subsequently left the club at the end of the season in May 2019.
3.5. Yokohama F. Marinos (2019)
On June 18, 2019, Jin Izumisawa returned to Japan and joined Yokohama F. Marinos on a full transfer. Despite the move to a J1 League club, his playing time was very limited. He made only one official appearance, which was in the Emperor's Cup. Although he was part of the squad that won the J1 League title in 2019, he did not feature in any league matches that season.
3.6. Ventforet Kofu (2020-2021)
On December 29, 2019, it was announced that Izumisawa would move to Ventforet Kofu on a loan deal for the 2020 season. He scored his first goal for Ventforet Kofu on August 2, in the 9th round of the J2 League against Renofa Yamaguchi FC. During his loan spell, he made 28 league appearances, scoring 3 goals. On December 28, 2020, his transfer to Ventforet Kofu was made permanent. In the 2021 season, he continued to be a key player for the club, making 26 league appearances and significantly increasing his goal tally to 10.
3.7. Return to Omiya Ardija (2022-2024)
On December 25, 2021, Izumisawa announced his full transfer back to Omiya Ardija, marking his return to the club after six years. During his second stint with Omiya Ardija, he continued to be a regular presence. In 2022, he played 16 J2 League matches, scoring 1 goal, and also made 2 appearances and scored 0 goals in the J. League Cup. In 2023, he made 38 appearances in the J2 League, scoring 3 goals, with an additional appearance in the J. League Cup. In 2024, he played 7 matches in the J3 League, scoring 1 goal, and also made 1 appearance in the Emperor's Cup and 2 appearances (scoring 1 goal) in the Saitama Soccer Championship. His contributions helped Omiya Ardija win the J3 League title in 2024.
3.8. FC Gifu (2025-)
On December 26, 2024, it was announced that Jin Izumisawa would make a full transfer to FC Gifu for the 2025 season. He is currently playing for the club.
4. National Team Career
Jin Izumisawa represented Japan at the university level. He was part of the Universiade Japan Representative team that participated in the 2013 Summer Universiade held in Kazan, Russia. His performance, including being named Man of the Match against Turkey in the opening game, contributed to the team securing a bronze medal in the tournament.
5. Honours
Jin Izumisawa has earned several titles and individual awards throughout his career.
Club
- Hannan University
- Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1: 2010, 2012
- Kansai Student Soccer Championship: 2011
- Osaka Soccer Championship: 2011
- Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Soccer Tournament: 2012
- Omiya Ardija
- J2 League: 2015
- J3 League: 2024
- Saitama Soccer Championship: 2024
- Yokohama F. Marinos
- J1 League: 2019
Individual
- Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1 Rookie of the Year: 2010
- Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1 Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2012
- Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1 Excellent Player Award: 2012
- Kansai Student Soccer League Division 1 Special Award: 2013
- Denso Cup Challenge Soccer Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2011
- Denso Cup Challenge Soccer Best Eleven: 2011
6. Career Statistics
Updated as of December 26, 2024.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
| 2011 | Hannan University | University | 11 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | Omiya Ardija | J1 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | J2 | 41 | 7 | - | 3 | 2 | - | 44 | 9 | ||||
| 2016 | J1 | 30 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | - | 41 | 6 | |||
| 2017 | Gamba Osaka | J1 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 6 | |
| 2018 | J1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Tokyo Verdy | J2 | 17 | 3 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 3 | ||||
| Poland | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
| 2018-19 | Pogoń Szczecin | EKS | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
| 2019 | Yokohama F. Marinos | J1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | Ventforet Kofu | J2 | 28 | 3 | - | - | - | 28 | 3 | ||||
| 2021 | J2 | 26 | 10 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 26 | 10 | ||||
| 2022 | Omiya Ardija | J2 | 16 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 18 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | J2 | 38 | 3 | - | 1 | 0 | - | 39 | 3 | ||||
| 2024 | J3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 10 | 2 | |||
| 2025 | FC Gifu | J3 | |||||||||||
| Japan J1 League Total | 70 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 104 | 12 | |||
| Japan J2 League Total | 166 | 27 | - | 6 | 2 | - | 172 | 29 | |||||
| Japan J3 League Total | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 10 | 2 | ||||
| Poland Ekstraklasa Total | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Career total | 255 | 34 | 20 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 299 | 44 | |||
; Reserve Team Performance
Updated as of March 10, 2018.
| Club performance | League | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Total | ||||
| 2018 | Gamba Osaka U-23 | J3 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Career total | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | ||
; Debut and First Goal Records
- J. League debut: March 2, 2014, J1 League Matchday 1 vs. Yokohama F. Marinos (at Nissan Stadium)
- J. League first goal: May 3, 2015, J2 League Matchday 11 vs. Ehime FC (at NACK5 Stadium Omiya)
- Ekstraklasa debut and first goal: April 3, 2019, Matchday 28 vs. Lech Poznań (at ENEA Stadion)
7. Personal Life
On March 9, 2018, Jin Izumisawa announced his marriage to Mai Yamada, a Japanese free announcer. Their first child, a daughter, was born on May 1, 2020.
8. Playing Style and Characteristics
Jin Izumisawa primarily plays as a midfielder or forward. He is right-footed and is known for his individual strength and ability to make an impact on the field. He wears the jersey number 39. This choice is symbolic, as the sum of 3 and 9 is 12, a number commonly associated with football fans, signifying a connection and dedication to the supporters.