1. Overview
Naoki Yamada (山田 直輝Yamada NaokiJapanese), born on July 4, 1990, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for FC Gifu. His career has primarily been with Urawa Red Diamonds and Shonan Bellmare, where he achieved significant team successes, including winning the Emperor's Cup with Urawa and the J2 League title with Shonan Bellmare. Yamada has also represented the Japan national team at various youth levels and the senior squad, making his debut in 2009. Despite his talent, his career has been marked by frequent and severe injuries that have led to extended periods of absence from play.
2. Early life and background
2.1. Birth and family
Naoki Yamada was born on July 4, 1990, in Urawa City, Saitama Prefecture, which is now part of Saitama City as Urawa Ward. His father, Takashi Yamada, was also a professional footballer. Takashi Yamada played as a full-back or midfielder for Mazda SC (the predecessor to Sanfrecce Hiroshima) in the Japan Soccer League Division 1 and was a member of the Japan U-20 national team. Naoki was born while his father was employed at Mazda's head office after his retirement from playing.
2.2. Youth career
Yamada began his football journey at the Kitaurawa Soccer Sports Boy Scouts. In his final year of elementary school, he joined FC Urawa, a selected team, and helped them win the JFA All Japan U-12 Football Championship in 2002. For his junior high and high school years, he entered the academy system of Urawa Red Diamonds, playing for their junior youth team from 2003 to 2005 and then their youth team from 2006 to 2008. During his time with the junior youth team, he achieved notable success, winning both the Prince Takamado Cup All Japan Youth (U-15) Football Championship and the Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-15) in 2005.
As a member of the Urawa Reds youth team, Yamada frequently played as a defensive midfielder for the club's satellite team. He made 6 appearances and scored 1 goal in 2007, and 5 appearances in 2008 for the satellite squad. In 2008, he played a crucial role in the Prince Takamado Cup 19th All Japan Youth (U-18) Football Championship final against Nagoya Grampus U-18, where he scored a hat-trick to contribute to Urawa's 9-1 victory and secure the championship. He also finished as the tournament's top scorer with 8 goals. In August 2007, Yamada was selected to represent the Japan U-17 national team at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He wore the prestigious number 10 jersey for Japan and played the full 90 minutes in all three of the team's matches during the tournament.
3. Professional career
Naoki Yamada's professional career has seen him progress through various clubs, primarily with Urawa Red Diamonds and Shonan Bellmare, and an upcoming move to FC Gifu.
3.1. Urawa Red Diamonds
Yamada's professional journey began and largely unfolded with Urawa Red Diamonds, encompassing his initial years, a period away on loan, and a subsequent return.
3.1.1. Early period (2008-2014)
In April 2008, Yamada was registered as a Type 2 player, allowing him to play for the senior team while still part of the youth squad. He made his J.League debut on April 26, 2008, at the age of 17 years, 9 months, and 22 days, coming on as a substitute in the 35th minute of the second half of a match against Kyoto Sanga FC. His only other official appearance in 2008 was on June 8 in a J.League Cup match against Nagoya Grampus.
In 2009, Yamada was officially promoted to the Urawa Red Diamonds top team. On March 14, in a J1 League match against FC Tokyo, he came on as a substitute in the 33rd minute of the second half and assisted a goal by Robson Ponte, marking his first professional assist. On April 29, he scored his first professional goal in a match against Shimizu S-Pulse in the 29th minute of the second half. In May 2009, he received his first call-up to the Japan national team. On May 27, he debuted in the Kirin Cup against Chile at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, entering as a substitute in the 39th minute of the first half. In the 47th minute of the second half, he assisted Keisuke Honda's first senior national team goal, which was Japan's fourth goal of the match. He later withdrew from the national team due to a right gluteal injury and did not join the FIFA World Cup Final Qualifiers. He also suffered from lumbar spondylolysis, a condition he had since junior high school, which led to repeated absences. His frequent injuries significantly impacted Urawa's performance, as the team often struggled when he was unavailable. On December 19, in an international friendly match for the U-20 national team against South Korea, he scored two goals after coming on as a substitute, leading his team to a comeback victory.
In 2010, Yamada was selected for the Japan national team, which primarily consisted of young players. He started in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Yemen on January 6 but was forced to leave the field in the 17th minute of the first half due to a severe tackle. A subsequent examination revealed a right fibula fracture, requiring three months of recovery. After a lengthy rehabilitation, he rejoined full team training in early June and made his return to official matches on June 9 in a J.League Cup group stage match against Yokohama F. Marinos, entering as a substitute in the 33rd minute of the second half after approximately five months. After the 2010 FIFA World Cup break, he played in three league matches. However, on August 6, he suffered another right fibula fracture during training, initially diagnosed as a severe bruise, which again required three months of recovery. Despite concerns about his return that season, he completed another long rehabilitation and fully rejoined training in early December. On December 25, he was on the bench for the Emperor's Cup quarter-final against Gamba Osaka but did not play, and Urawa lost, ending their season.
In 2011, he changed his jersey number to 22 following Yuki Abe's transfer. At the start of the season, due to the previous year's injuries, he struggled to even make the bench. He finally made his first official appearance of the season on June 5 in a J.League Cup first-round match against Montedio Yamagata. Under manager Zeljko Petrovic, he was sometimes deployed on the unfamiliar right wing, and tactical issues prevented him from playing his preferred free-roaming style. However, after Takafumi Hori took over as manager, Yamada was consistently played as a double attacking midfielder alongside Yosuke Kashiwagi, contributing to the team's survival in J1.
In 2012, with Abe's return, he changed his jersey number back to 34. On March 20, in a J.League Cup match against Vegalta Sendai, he suffered a left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury from a collision, which was diagnosed to require approximately six months for full recovery. This injury also prevented him from participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics for the Japan U-23 national team. In December, he married a woman from Saitama City whom he had been dating since high school. During his initial period with Urawa Red Diamonds, the team finished second in the J.League Cup in 2011 and 2013, and second in the J1 League in 2014.
3.1.2. Return period (2018-2019)
On December 7, 2017, it was announced that Yamada would return to Urawa Red Diamonds after four years away. On April 28, 2018, he made his first J1 League start since his return in a match against Shonan Bellmare. He was part of the Urawa team that won the Emperor's Cup in 2018.
3.2. Shonan Bellmare
Yamada's career at Shonan Bellmare included both loan periods and a permanent transfer, where he played a significant role.
3.2.1. Loan periods (2015-2017, 2019)
In 2015, Yamada was loaned to Shonan Bellmare for one year. On May 20, he scored his first goal for the club in a J.League Cup match against Matsumoto Yamaga FC. On September 22, 2016, in the third round of the Emperor's Cup, he scored two goals in a single match for the first time in his professional career, signaling his return from injury. On November 3, 2016, in the 17th matchday of the J1 League 2nd stage against Nagoya Grampus, he started and scored two goals, though Nagoya was relegated to J2 after this loss. After the season, his loan was extended for another year.
On August 5, 2017, in a J2 League match against Matsumoto Yamaga FC, he scored the winning goal, contributing to the team's victory. On August 26, in a match against Thespakusatsu Gunma, he was involved in all of Shonan's goals, helping secure another win. On September 30, in a match against Zweigen Kanazawa, he scored a goal just 11 seconds into the match, contributing to a victory that secured Shonan Bellmare the 2017 J2 League title. On July 24, 2019, it was announced that he would return to Shonan Bellmare for a second loan spell after two years.
3.2.2. Permanent transfer (2020-2024)
On December 31, 2019, it was announced that Yamada would make a permanent transfer to Shonan Bellmare for the 2020 season. He remained with the club until the end of the 2024 season, when his contract expired.
3.3. FC Gifu (2025-)
For the 2025 season, Naoki Yamada made a permanent transfer to FC Gifu. He will wear jersey number 15 for the club.
4. National team career
Naoki Yamada has represented Japan at various age levels, showcasing his talent from a young age, and also earned caps for the senior national team.
4.1. Youth teams
Yamada's international career began early, representing Japan at multiple youth levels. He played 2 matches with 0 goals for the U-15 Japan national team in the 2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification. For the U-16 Japan national team, he played 6 matches and scored 1 goal in the 2006 AFC U-17 Championship, which Japan won.
In August 2007, Yamada was selected for the Japan U-17 national team to compete in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He wore the number 10 shirt and played the entire 90 minutes in all three of the team's matches (against Haiti, Nigeria, and France), without scoring.
For the U-20 Japan national team, he played 1 match and scored 2 goals in an international friendly against South Korea U-20 in 2009. He also featured for the U-22 Japan national team, playing 2 matches and scoring 1 goal in international friendlies in 2011 (against Uzbekistan U-22 and Egypt U-22). He participated in the Uzbekistan expedition in March 2011 and a training camp in April 2011. Yamada was part of the U-23 Japan national team for the London Olympics Asian Final Qualifiers in 2012, though he missed the tournament itself due to injury.
4.2. Senior national team
Yamada made his senior national team debut on May 27, 2009, in a friendly match against Chile at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, as part of the Kirin Cup. In this match, he assisted a goal by Keisuke Honda. He earned his second and final cap on January 6, 2010, starting in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Yemen in Sana'a. In total, he played 2 international A matches for Japan, scoring 0 goals, between 2009 and 2010.
5. Playing position and style
Naoki Yamada primarily operates as a midfielder or forward. Standing at 66 in (168 cm) tall and weighing 146 lb (66 kg), he is known for his agility and ability to move freely across the pitch. He is recognized as one of the central players of the "Urawa Youth Golden Generation." In June 2009, British sports broadcaster Sky Sports featured Yamada in a program scouting promising young players globally. They gave him a score of 64 out of 80, tying for third highest, and noted his playing style as similar to that of former English midfielder Paul Scholes.
6. Injury history
Throughout his career, Naoki Yamada has faced significant challenges due to frequent and severe injuries, which have led to extended periods of absence from the field. His resilience in returning to play after these setbacks has been a notable aspect of his professional journey.
On January 6, 2010, during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match between Yemen and Japan, Yamada was forced to leave the field after just 21 minutes. He sustained a violent right fibula fracture following a challenge from Yemeni defender Ahmed Sadeq. This injury required approximately three months for recovery, keeping him out of several matches.
On March 20, 2012, while playing in a 2012 J.League Cup match between Urawa Reds and Vegalta Sendai, Yamada suffered another significant injury: a break in his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) due to a collision. This injury was diagnosed to require approximately six months for recovery. Tragically, this particular injury deprived him of the opportunity to play for Japan in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Additionally, Yamada has suffered from lumbar spondylolysis since his junior high school days. This chronic condition has contributed to his recurring injury problems and prolonged absences throughout his professional career.
7. Career statistics
7.1. Club statistics
- Updated as of January 5, 2025.*
| Club | Season | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | ACL | Other competitions | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 26 | 3 | |||
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 1 | |||
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| Shonan Bellmare | 2015 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 23 | 3 | ||
| 2016 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 4 | |||
| 2017 | 39 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 40 | 5 | ||||
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2018 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Shonan Bellmare | 2019 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 18 | 2 | ||||
| 2021 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 39 | 5 | |||
| 2022 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2023 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 4 | |||
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 13 | 1 | |||
| FC Gifu | 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total for J1 League | 196 | 13 | 40 | 9 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 255 | 27 | |
| Total for J2 League | 39 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 40 | 5 | |||
| Total for J3 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 235 | 18 | 41 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 296 | 31 | |
7.2. International statistics
- Updated as of August 10, 2011 (for U-22), and January 7, 2010 (for senior Japan).*
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan U17 | 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 1 | |
| Japan U20 | 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 1 | 2 | |
| Japan U23 | 2011 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | |
| Japan | 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
- International appearances and goals:**
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goal | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | ||||||
| November 15 | Paju National Football Center, Paju | Macau U15 | 26-0 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification / Japan U15 | |
| November 17 | Paju National Football Center, Paju | South Korea U15 | 1-1 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification / Japan U15 | |
| 2006 | ||||||
| September 3 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar | Nepal U16 | 6-0 | 1 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 | |
| September 5 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar | Singapore U16 | 1-1 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 | |
| September 7 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar | South Korea U16 | 3-2 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 | |
| September 11 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar | Iran U16 | 1-1 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 | |
| September 14 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar | Syria U16 | 2-0 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 | |
| September 17 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar | North Korea U16 | 4-2 | 0 | 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 | |
| 2007 | ||||||
| August 19 | Gwangyang Football Stadium, Gwangyang | Haiti U17 | 3-1 | 0 | 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup / Japan U17 | |
| August 22 | Gwangyang Football Stadium, Gwangyang | Nigeria U17 | 0-3 | 0 | 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup / Japan U17 | |
| August 25 | Goyang Stadium, Goyang | France U17 | 1-2 | 0 | 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup / Japan U17 | |
| 2009 | ||||||
| 1. | May 27 | Nagai Stadium, Osaka | Chile | 4-0 | 0 | 2009 Kirin Cup |
| December 19 | Changwon Football Center, Changwon | South Korea U20 | 2-1 | 2 | Friendly / Japan U20 | |
| 2010 | ||||||
| 2. | January 6 | Ali Muhesen Stadium, Sana'a | Yemen | 3-2 | 0 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 2011 | ||||||
| March 29 | JAR Stadium, Tashkent | Uzbekistan U22 | 2-1 | 0 | Friendly / Japan U22 | |
| August 10 | Sapporo Dome, Sapporo | Egypt U22 | 2-1 | 1 | Friendly / Japan U22 | |
8. Honours
Naoki Yamada has earned several team and individual accolades throughout his career.
8.1. Club honours
- FC Urawa:**
- JFA All Japan U-12 Football Championship: 2002
- Urawa Reds Junior Youth:**
- Prince Takamado Cup All Japan Youth (U-15) Football Championship: 2005
- Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-15): 2005
- Urawa Reds Youth:**
- Prince Takamado Cup All Japan Youth (U-18) Football Championship: 2008
- Shonan Bellmare:**
- J2 League: 2017
- Urawa Red Diamonds:**
- Emperor's Cup: 2018
8.2. International honours
- AFC U-17 Championship: 2006
- Kirin Cup: 2009
8.3. Individual honours
- Prince Takamado Cup All Japan Youth (U-18) Football Championship Top Scorer: 2008
9. Personal life and anecdotes
Naoki Yamada was born in Urawa City, Saitama Prefecture, and is considered one of the central figures of the "Urawa Youth Golden Generation," a group of highly talented players who emerged from the Urawa Red Diamonds youth academy. His father, Takashi Yamada, was a former professional footballer who played for Mazda SC and the Japan U-20 national team. In December 2012, Yamada married a woman from Saitama City whom he had been dating since high school. In June 2009, British sports broadcaster Sky Sports featured Yamada in a program dedicated to scouting promising young players globally. In their assessment, they gave him a score of 64 out of 80, placing him among the top prospects, and noted his playing style as being similar to that of the acclaimed English midfielder Paul Scholes.