1. Overview
Junya Ito, born on March 9, 1993, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Stade de Reims in Ligue 1 and the Japan national football team. Known by his nicknames "IJ" and "Inazuma Junya" (Lightning Junya), he is recognized for his exceptional speed, dribbling ability, and high work rate across various attacking positions. His career has seen him play for clubs in Japan, Belgium, and France, and he has been a key player for the Japanese national team, notably contributing to their qualification and performance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2. Early life and youth career
Junya Ito was born on March 9, 1993, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He began his football journey at the age of six, in his first year of elementary school, joining Kamoi SC in 1999 and playing there until 2005. Before entering junior high school, he attempted to join the Yokohama F. Marinos junior youth team but was unsuccessful. From 2005 to 2008, he played for Yokosuka Seagulls junior youth.
Following his family's preference for public education, Ito enrolled at Kanagawa Prefectural Zuyo High School in 2008, where he played football until 2010. Although he did not achieve notable success in high school football, he received scholarship offers from several universities. In 2011, he matriculated at Kanagawa University, where he continued his football development. During his time at Kanagawa University, he was a teammate of Toshiya Takagi.
Ito's university career was marked by significant individual achievements. In 2013, his third year, he played 20 matches in the Kanto University Soccer League Division 2, scoring 17 goals, which earned him the top scorer award and a spot in the league's Best XI. The following year, in 2014, he recorded 10 goals and 12 assists in the same league, becoming the assist king and being selected for the Best XI for the second consecutive year. His impressive performances attracted attention from professional clubs, leading to offers from Ventforet Kofu and Montedio Yamagata. In September 2014, he was designated as a Special Designated Player for Ventforet Kofu, joining their training sessions by the end of the year. Jun Mori, a scout for Ventforet Kofu, noted that he first observed Ito during his first year at university, being particularly impressed by his raw speed, a quality he believed could not be taught, despite Ito's then-unrefined skills.
3. Club career
Junya Ito's professional club career began in Japan before he moved to European leagues, where he established himself as a prominent attacking player.
3.1. Ventforet Kofu
Ventforet Kofu, a club with a smaller budget, focused on identifying hidden talents rather than competing for highly sought-after players. Scout Jun Mori's early observation of Ito's speed, despite his then-unpolished technique, proved crucial. Mori believed that while technical deficiencies could be improved, natural speed was an invaluable asset. He also noted that Kofu, being a J1 League club with a relatively lower barrier to playing time, offered Ito a valuable opportunity for consistent match experience, which he deemed essential for a player's growth.
Ito made his professional debut for Ventforet Kofu on March 14, 2015, in a J1 League 1st Stage match against Nagoya Grampus. His first start and professional goal came on May 2, 2015, in a match against Kashima Antlers. During his first professional season, Ito primarily played as a forward, making 30 league appearances and scoring 4 goals.
3.2. Kashiwa Reysol
On January 8, 2016, Junya Ito completed a permanent transfer to J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol. During the pre-season training camp, then-manager Milton Mendes initially converted Ito to a side-back position. However, following a change in management to Takahiro Shimohira, Ito was increasingly deployed in more attacking roles, such as wing-half or side-half. He scored his first goal for Kashiwa Reysol in the 1st Stage's eighth match against Kashima Antlers. In the second stage of the season, he formed a potent three-pronged attack alongside Diego Oliveira and Cristiano da Silva. He concluded the season with a total of 7 league goals.
In 2017, Ito played in every league match for Kashiwa Reysol and earned his first call-up to the Japan national football team. A notable moment came on August 13 against Shimizu S-Pulse, where he scored a spectacular goal after a solo dribble covering approximately 230 ft (70 m) from his own half. He finished the season with 6 goals and was recognized with the J.League Excellent Player Award. The 2018 season saw Ito continue as a regular starter, appearing in all 34 league matches and maintaining his presence in the national team. Despite his contributions, Kashiwa Reysol finished 17th in the league and was relegated to the J2 League.
3.3. K.R.C. Genk
In February 2019, Junya Ito moved to K.R.C. Genk in the Belgian Pro League on a one-year loan deal. He made his debut for Genk on February 21 in a UEFA Europa League Round of 16 match against SK Slavia Prague. His league debut followed on February 24 against Royal Antwerp FC. On March 17, in a match against SV Zulte Waregem, Ito scored his first goal for the club and also provided an assist, contributing significantly to the team's performance. He made 14 appearances during his loan spell, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists, helping Genk secure their first league title in eight seasons.
On September 18, 2019, Ito made his UEFA Champions League debut, starting in a group stage match against FC Red Bull Salzburg. On December 7, he scored his first league goal of the season against Cercle Brugge. On March 30, 2020, Ito's move to Genk was made permanent with a three-year contract. In the 2019-2020 season, he played 37 official matches, recording 6 goals and 9 assists.
Ito continued his strong form in the 2020-2021 season. On November 28, 2020, he scored in his second consecutive match against Cercle Brugge, helping Genk secure their sixth consecutive victory and climb to the top of the league table. On March 19, 2021, he scored two goals against Standard Liège, reaching double-digit goals for the season. On April 25, he scored the opening goal in the Belgian Cup final, contributing to Genk's cup victory, their first in eight seasons. He concluded the 2020-2021 season with 12 goals and 16 assists in 42 official matches. On October 18, 2021, Genk announced that Ito had extended his contract until 2024. On October 31, he delivered an impressive performance against SV Zulte Waregem, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists. In the 2021-2022 season, Ito played 49 official matches, scoring 8 goals and providing 21 assists. He notably became the league's assist leader with 16 assists and also won the Annual Best Goal Award.
3.4. Stade de Reims
On July 29, 2022, Junya Ito transferred to Ligue 1 club Stade de Reims in France. He scored his first goal for the club on August 28 against Lyon. On October 23, 2022, he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against AJ Auxerre. In the opening game of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season on August 12, Ito scored a stunning goal against Olympique de Marseille, though Reims ultimately lost 2-1.
In December 2024, "The Athletic," a sports newspaper published by The New York Times, released a ranking of individual players' percentage of team chances created in the 2024-25 season across Europe's top five leagues. Junya Ito topped this list, having created 33.9% of Stade de Reims' scoring opportunities.
4. International career
Junya Ito has represented Japan at both youth and senior levels, becoming a crucial attacking force for the national team.
4.1. Youth career
In November 2015, Ito received his first call-up to the Japan U-22 national team candidate training camp. In January 2016, he was named a preliminary registered member for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship. He made his debut for the U-23 national team in June 2016 in a Kirin Challenge Cup match against South Africa. Despite his performance, he was not selected for the final squad for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
4.2. Senior career
Junya Ito received his first call-up to the senior Japan national football team on November 29, 2017, for the 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship. He made his international A-match debut on December 9, 2017, against North Korea.
On September 11, 2018, Ito scored his first goal for the Japan national team in a Kirin Challenge Cup match against Costa Rica. He followed this with another goal on October 12, 2018, against Panama, marking his second consecutive international goal.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Second Round match against Mongolia on October 10, 2019, Ito recorded three assists. On March 30, 2021, in another match against Mongolia, he delivered an exceptional performance, scoring two goals and providing three assists, directly contributing to five of Japan's goals.
Initially, Ito often served as a substitute for Ritsu Doan under manager Hajime Moriyasu. However, he eventually secured a starting position during the final Asian qualifiers for the World Cup. On November 11, 2021, he scored the winning goal against Vietnam in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Third Round. He then went on to score in four consecutive final qualifier matches, a record-tying achievement, culminating in a goal against Saudi Arabia on February 1, 2022. Throughout the final qualifiers, Ito was directly involved in seven of Japan's 12 goals, scoring four, assisting two, and earning one penalty kick, significantly contributing to Japan's qualification for the World Cup.
On November 1, 2022, Ito was selected for Japan's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played in all of Japan's matches in the tournament. In the third group stage match against Spain, he provided a crucial assist for Ritsu Doan's equalizer, a goal that helped Japan secure a 2-1 victory and advance to the knockout stages. Although he did not score in the tournament, his contributions were vital to Japan reaching the Round of 16.
Ito was called up for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in January and February 2024. He participated in all three group stage matches. However, due to allegations of sexual misconduct (detailed in the "Controversy and legal proceedings" section), he was withdrawn from the squad during the tournament. Consequently, he was not called up for the national team matches in March and June 2024.
On August 29, 2024, Junya Ito was recalled to the Japan national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Third Round matches in September. Japan Football Association (JFA) National Team Director Masakuni Yamamoto stated that the decision was the manager's prerogative and not solely based on the outcome of the legal proceedings. Manager Hajime Moriyasu added that Ito's ability to play and the warm reception he received from the media, supporters, and the public during Stade de Reims' Japan tour in July 2024 were factors in his return. In his first match back with the national team on September 5, 2024, against China, Ito scored a goal in Japan's 7-0 victory.
5. Playstyle
Junya Ito primarily plays as a forward, with versatility across various attacking positions, including centre-forward, right forward, and right winger. He is renowned for his exceptional speed, which he utilizes to execute sudden changes of pace during his dribbles, enabling him to penetrate defenses and deliver crosses or take shots.
Beyond his offensive capabilities, Ito is also known for his high work rate and defensive contributions. He actively engages in press-back to win the ball high up the pitch, aiming to initiate counter-attacks. While he can be deployed as a striker or as part of a two-pronged attack, he has often been utilized as a side attacker, particularly on the right flank, for the Japan national team. Ito himself has expressed a preference for wide positions, indicating that he feels his strengths are not fully utilized when playing as a central striker.
6. Career statistics
6.1. Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ventforet Kofu | 2015 | J1 League | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 38 | 4 | ||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2016 | J1 League | 33 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 41 | 7 | ||
| 2017 | J1 League | 34 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 42 | 6 | |||
| 2018 | J1 League | 34 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | - | 41 | 9 | ||
| Total | 101 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 2 | - | 124 | 22 | |||
| Genk (loan) | 2018-19 | Belgian Pro League | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | - | 14 | 3 | ||
| 2019-20 | Belgian Pro League | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 6 | ||
| Total | 42 | 8 | 2 | 1 | - | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 9 | |||
| Genk | 2020-21 | Belgian Pro League | 38 | 11 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 42 | 12 | |||
| 2021-22 | Belgian Pro League | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 8 | ||
| 2022-23 | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 78 | 19 | 5 | 1 | - | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 20 | |||
| Reims | 2022-23 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 36 | 6 | |||
| 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 31 | 3 | ||||
| 2024-25 | Ligue 1 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 17 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 83 | 13 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 84 | 13 | |||||
| Career total | 334 | 62 | 17 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 390 | 68 | ||
6.2. International statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 9 | 5 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | |
| Total | 58 | 14 | |
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Itō goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 September 2018 | Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan | Costa Rica | 3-0 | 3-0 | Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 2 | 12 October 2018 | Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan | Panama | 2-0 | 3-0 | 2018 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 3 | 30 March 2021 | Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan | Mongolia | 8-0 | 14-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 10-0 | |||||
| 5 | 11 June 2021 | Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan | Serbia | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 11 November 2021 | Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | Vietnam | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 16 November 2021 | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman | Oman | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 27 January 2022 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan | China | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 1 February 2022 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan | Saudi Arabia | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 20 June 2023 | Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan | Peru | 3-0 | 4-1 | Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 11 | 9 September 2023 | Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany | Germany | 1-0 | 4-1 | Friendly |
| 12 | 12 September 2023 | Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium | Turkey | 4-2 | 4-2 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 13 | 17 October 2023 | Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan | Tunisia | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 14 | 5 September 2024 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan | China | 5-0 | 7-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
7. Honours
Junya Ito has accumulated several team and individual accolades throughout his career.
7.1. Team honours
- Belgian Pro League: 2018-19
- Belgian Cup: 2020-21
- Belgian Super Cup: 2019
7.2. Individual honours
- Kanto University Soccer League Division 2 Best XI: 2013, 2014
- Kanto University Soccer League Division 2 Top Scorer: 2013
- Kanto University Soccer League Division 2 Top Assist: 2014
- J.League Excellent Player Award: 2017
- Belgian Pro League Best XI: 2020-21
- Belgian Pro League Top Assist: 2021-22
- Belgian Pro League Annual Best Goal Award: 2021-22
- Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards Best XI: 2022, 2023, 2024
8. Personal life
On November 23, 2021, Junya Ito announced his marriage to a non-public figure via his Instagram account.
9. Controversy and legal proceedings
In early 2024, Junya Ito became the subject of allegations of sexual misconduct, leading to a series of legal proceedings and significant public attention.
9.1. Allegations and initial reports
On January 31, 2024, the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Shincho reported that the police had launched an investigation into Ito following a criminal complaint filed by two women. The women alleged that Ito and his personal trainer engaged in sexual acts with them without their consent while they were intoxicated at a hotel in Osaka in June 2023, after a match for Japan against Peru. The allegations included claims of adultery and quasi-forcible sexual intercourse.
According to Shukan Shincho, Ito's legal team had been in discussions with the women's representatives since November 2023. However, Ito's initial lawyers resigned by January 2024, citing a disagreement over legal strategy. Ito then appointed a new lawyer, Kato Hirotaro, on January 27. While Ito's side initially claimed that sexual consent was given, his new legal team later asserted that the sexual acts themselves did not occur, characterizing the allegations as a "fabrication." The women filed their criminal complaint on January 18, 2024, which was accepted by the Tenma Police Station of the Osaka Prefectural Police.
9.2. Japan Football Association's response and national team withdrawal
Following the Shukan Shincho report, Ito did not participate in Japan's 2023 AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 match against Bahrain on January 31, nor did he attend the team's full training session on February 1. On February 1, the Japan Football Association (JFA) announced Ito's withdrawal from the ongoing Asian Cup, citing his "physical and mental condition." This decision was initially met with some confusion as the JFA briefly retracted the announcement before reconfirming Ito's departure later the same day after further discussions.
9.3. Sponsor reactions
The allegations had an immediate impact on Ito's commercial partnerships. Credi Saison, a major partner of the JFA, removed all advertisements, commercials, and news releases featuring Ito from their platforms. Anfa, another JFA sponsor, deleted all posts related to Ito from their official X (formerly Twitter) account. Additionally, Puma, with whom Ito had an exclusive contract, removed his name and image from their official website.
9.4. Stade de Reims' stance
In contrast to the JFA and sponsors, Junya Ito's club, Stade de Reims, expressed support for the player. On February 1, 2024, the club released a statement affirming that they had "never questioned the human qualities and behavior of the Japanese striker." Jean-Pierre Caillot, the chairman of Stade de Reims, publicly stated, "I insist on the presumption of innocence. I have no reason not to believe him."
Ito continued to play for Stade de Reims, returning to the field on February 11, just nine days after his withdrawal from the national team. He remained a starter for the remainder of the season, achieving a strong performance by ranking second in assists in Ligue 1. In July 2024, Ito participated in Stade de Reims' Japan tour, playing in all four matches against Japanese clubs, which was seen as a positive sign of his continued standing with the club and a test of public reception in Japan.
9.5. Ito's counter-actions
On February 1, 2024, Junya Ito's legal team filed a criminal complaint against the two women with the Osaka Prefectural Police, alleging false accusation. On February 2, Ito's lawyer, Kato Hirotaro, publicly asserted that the sexual misconduct allegations were entirely fabricated. As evidence, he presented a video allegedly showing one of the women "sleeping soundly in a football jersey" in the hotel room, and a LINE message sent by one of the women to Ito's manager, which read, "Is this a meeting to make Junya-san feel good?"
On February 19, Ito's legal team filed a civil lawsuit against the two women at the Osaka District Court, seeking approximately 200.00 M JPY in damages. The lawsuit claimed that the false accusations had damaged his reputation and led to the termination of sponsorship contracts. Ito's legal team explained that the delay in filing the civil suit was due to difficulties in locating the women, as the address provided in their criminal complaint was incorrect. The lawsuit also stated that it was "objectively impossible" for Ito to have engaged in sexual activity on the night in question, as he had sustained a hip injury (groin pain from a muscle strain) during the match played earlier that day, making even walking difficult.
On July 29, Ito filed a criminal complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office against the two women and five editors and reporters from Shukan Shincho, alleging defamation. The complaint asserted that the sexual assault claims were false, and that Shukan Shincho's reporting was clearly insufficient.
9.6. Criminal proceedings outcome
The Osaka Prefectural Police received the women's criminal complaint by January 18, 2024, and Ito's criminal complaint by February 1, 2024. On July 2, 2024, the police referred both Ito (on suspicion of quasi-forcible sexual assault with injury) and the two women (on suspicion of false accusation) to the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office. The police were reportedly recommending non-prosecution for both parties.
On August 9, 2024, the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to prosecute either Junya Ito or the two women, citing "insufficient evidence." The prosecutors stated that despite a "necessary and sufficient investigation," they were unable to collect enough evidence to warrant prosecution. Ito's lawyer conveyed his client's relief at the decision, stating that Ito had consistently maintained his innocence. Following this decision, Japan national team manager Hajime Moriyasu indicated that the "hurdle" for Ito's return to the national team had been lowered. However, both Ito and the two women filed appeals to the Osaka Prosecution Review Board in September 2024, challenging the non-prosecution decision.
9.7. Return to national team
On August 29, 2024, Junya Ito was officially recalled to the Japan national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Third Round matches scheduled for September. JFA National Team Director Masakuni Yamamoto clarified that the decision was the manager's prerogative and not directly based on the legal outcome. Manager Hajime Moriyasu further explained that the decision was influenced by Ito's ability to perform and the warm reception he received from the media, supporters, and the public during Stade de Reims' Japan tour, which demonstrated that he could operate within the team environment. In his first match back with the national team on September 5, 2024, against China, Ito scored a goal in Japan's 7-0 victory, marking his return to scoring for the national team after seven months.