1. Overview
Ryoya Ogawa is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for Belgian club Sint-Truiden. Born on November 24, 1996, in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, and raised in Nerima, Tokyo, Ogawa developed through various youth academies before joining FC Tokyo in 2015. He spent several years at FC Tokyo, establishing himself as a key player, and later experienced loan spells with Vitória Guimarães in Portugal and Sint-Truiden in Belgium, eventually making his move to Sint-Truiden permanent in June 2024. Ogawa has also represented Japan at various youth levels and made his senior national team debut in 2021.
2. Personal Information and Background
Ryoya Ogawa (小川 諒也Ogawa RyōyaJapanese) was born on November 24, 1996. Although born in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, he grew up in Nerima, Tokyo. Standing at 72 in (183 cm) and weighing 172 lb (78 kg), Ogawa primarily plays as a defender, specifically as a left-back. He is known for his strong left-footed play. His nickname among teammates and fans is "Ryoya" (リョーヤRyōyaJapanese). While pursuing his professional football career, Ogawa also studied through the e-school distance learning program at Waseda University's School of Human Sciences.
2.1. Youth Career
Ogawa began playing football at the age of six, joining Corega SC in Nerima, Tokyo, during his elementary school years. In junior high school, he played for Forza'02, where he started playing as a left-back. His performance in the 2011 Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-15) attracted offers from several strong high school football programs. Inspired by Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School's victory in the 2007 National High School Football Championship, he enrolled there in 2012.
During his first year at Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School, Ogawa contributed to the team's consecutive victories in the Iggyora Cup. Due to his exceptional athleticism, he was utilized in various positions, from centre-back to forward. From the summer of 2014, he was primarily deployed as a left midfielder, where his offensive capabilities were highly valued. In the 93rd National High School Football Championship, he created numerous scoring opportunities with his precise set pieces, helping his team reach the semifinals. For his outstanding performance, he was selected as an "Excellent Player" of the tournament.
3. Professional Career
Ryoya Ogawa's professional career began in 2015 when he joined FC Tokyo, a club located in his home region. His journey has seen him develop significantly, leading to stints in European leagues and appearances for the Japan national team.
3.1. FC Tokyo
After a competitive recruitment battle among multiple clubs, Ogawa chose to join FC Tokyo in 2015, citing the scouts' enthusiasm, the club's active promotion of young players, and its status as his local team. He was determined to compete for the left-back position, which he considered his specialty. He focused on improving his positioning and physical strength. He made his J3 League debut on March 21, 2015, in a match against Renofa Yamaguchi FC. His J1 League debut came on March 6, 2016, against Vegalta Sendai.
In March 2016, Ogawa made his official debut for FC Tokyo's top team in the AFC Champions League group stage match against Becamex Binh Duong. Filling a crucial gap at left-back, he was also entrusted with set piece duties. In this match, he played a pivotal role in a comeback victory, forcing an own goal from the opposing goalkeeper and assisting a goal for forward Ryoichi Maeda. Throughout the 2016 season, he recorded the most assists and crosses for the team in league play.
In April 2016, he was invited to a training camp for the U-23 Japan national team candidates, showcasing his left-footed crosses, though he was ultimately not selected for the 2016 Rio Olympics squad. On May 31, 2017, he scored his first professional goal from a free kick in a J.League Cup match against Shimizu S-Pulse. On July 15, he scored his first league goal in a J3 League match against Gainare Tottori. On July 30, he made his J1 League debut in a match against Albirex Niigata.
On March 31, 2018, in a J1 League match against Gamba Osaka, he started and provided two assists. On July 19, he started at right-back, an unfamiliar position, in a match against Kashiwa Reysol. Despite facing Cristiano da Silva, he helped the team keep a clean sheet and secure a victory. In the 2019 season, Ogawa solidified his position as a regular starter, winning a high-level competition for the left-back spot against former Japan national team player Kosuke Ota. On May 18, he scored his first J1 League goal in a match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
3.2. Loan Spells
On May 28, 2022, it was announced that Ogawa would move to Portuguese club Vitória Guimarães on a loan deal. He made his official debut for Vitória Guimarães on July 21, 2022, in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match, contributing to an additional goal and advancing his case for a regular starting position.
On June 26, 2023, Ogawa's loan move to Belgian club Sint-Truiden was announced. The loan agreement was for the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. In June 2024, his move to Sint-Truiden was made permanent.
3.3. International Career
Ogawa has represented Japan at various levels, including youth teams and the senior national team. He participated in the 67th National Sports Festival of Japan in 2012 as part of the Chiba Prefecture selection, where the team reached the quarterfinals. In 2016, he was invited to a training camp for the U-23 Japan national team candidates.
On March 18, 2021, Ogawa received his first call-up to the Japan national football team for an international friendly against South Korea and a 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match against Mongolia. He made his senior national team debut on March 25, 2021, in the friendly against South Korea. He also participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in 2021.
4. Playing Style
Ryoya Ogawa is characterized by his physical presence and offensive capabilities as a defender. At 72 in (183 cm), he is considered tall for a Japanese left-back, which gives him an advantage in aerial duels. His crosses from overlapping runs are highly accurate, and he often takes corner kicks for his team. His playing style is considered well-suited for international matches due to his physical attributes and offensive contributions. He has also demonstrated versatility, having been deployed in various positions throughout his career, including centre-back, forward, left midfielder, and even right-back.
5. Statistics
This section provides a comprehensive record of Ryoya Ogawa's career statistics across various clubs and competitions, including his performance for reserve teams and the Japan national team.
5.1. Club Statistics
| 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 | AFC | Total | |||||||
| 2015 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | - | 13 | 1 | |||
| 2018 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2020 | J1 League | 28 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 33 | 1 | |||
| 2022 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 19 | 3 | |||
| Portugal | League | Taça de Portugal | Taça da Liga | UEFA | Total | |||||||
| 2022-23 | Vitória Guimarães (loan) | Primeira Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | |
| Belgium | League | Belgian Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
| 2023-24 | Sint-Truiden (loan) | Belgian Pro League | 4 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 143 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 187 | 6 | ||
Other official matches:
- 2020: AFC Champions League Play-off - 1 appearance, 0 goals
- 2024: Belgian League Play-off - 3 appearances, 1 goal
5.2. Reserve and U-23 Performance
| Club performance | League | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Total | ||||
| 2015 | J.League U-22 Selection | J3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | FC Tokyo U-23 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 26 | 1 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 53 | 1 | 53 | 1 | ||
5.3. National Team Statistics
| No. | Date | City | Stadium | Opponent | Result | Manager | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | March 25, 2021 | Yokohama | International Stadium Yokohama (Nissan Stadium) | South Korea | W 3-0 | Hajime Moriyasu | International friendly |
| 2. | March 30, 2021 | Chiba | Fukuda Denshi Arena | Mongolia | W 14-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers & 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers | |
| 3. | June 7, 2021 | Osaka | Panasonic Stadium Suita | Tajikistan | W 3-1 | World Cup Qualifiers | |
| 4. | June 11, 2021 | Hyogo | Noevir Stadium Kobe | Serbia | W 1-0 | Kirin Challenge Cup | |
| 5. | June 15, 2021 | Osaka | Panasonic Stadium Suita | Kyrgyzstan | W 5-1 | World Cup Qualifiers |
6. Honours
Ryoya Ogawa has achieved several team and individual honours throughout his career, reflecting his contributions to both youth and professional football.
6.1. Team Honours
; Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School
- Iggyora Cup: 2013
- Prince Takamado Cup U-18 Football League Premier League EAST: 2013
; FC Tokyo
- J.League Cup: 2020
6.2. Individual Honours
- National High School Football Championship Excellent Player: 2014