Takashi Usami

2.1. Gamba Osaka (First Spell)

In 2009, Usami became the first player in Gamba Osaka's history to be promoted to the senior team while still in his second year of high school. On 20 May 2009, he made his professional debut as a starter against FC Seoul in the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage. At 17 years and 14 days old, he became the youngest player to debut and score for the club, breaking the records previously held by Junichi Inamoto. Four days later, on 24 May, he made his J.League debut against Kashima Antlers. However, he struggled to maintain form and was rarely included in the squad, making only four official appearances (three league matches and one AFC Champions League match with one goal) throughout the 2009 season.

In 2010, Usami gradually became a more regular presence in the Gamba Osaka team. On 10 April, he made his first start of the year in a J1 League match against Omiya Ardija, assisting an equalizer that helped end the team's five-game winless streak. He scored his first league goal on 24 April against FC Tokyo. In the AFC Champions League, he netted a dramatic injury-time winner against Suwon Samsung Bluewings, contributing to a comeback victory. As a third-year high school student, he broke into Gamba Osaka's "golden midfield," which included experienced national team players like Yasuhito Endo, Takahiro Futagawa, Hideo Hashimoto, and Tomokazu Myojin. Playing primarily as a left side-half or a second striker, he scored seven goals, surpassing Takayuki Morimoto's record for most goals by a high school J.League player (four goals). For his performance, he received the J.League Best Young Player award, a first for a Gamba Osaka player. He also led all Japanese players in J1 with the most shots on goal and was voted season MVP by players and supporters on the club's official program, "GAMBA TV."

In 2011, Usami changed his jersey number to 11. He was primarily deployed in midfield roles, including left midfielder and attacking midfielder. Despite expectations, he went eight consecutive official matches without a goal, leading to him occasionally being dropped from the starting lineup. However, he scored his first league goal of 2011 on 15 May against Avispa Fukuoka, a match observed by Japan national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni. On 27 June, it was confirmed that Usami would join German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich on a one-year loan with an option for a permanent transfer. In his final match for Gamba Osaka before his move, a J1 League game against Vissel Kobe on 13 July, he delivered a memorable performance with one goal and one assist.

2.2. Bayern Munich (Loan)

Usami officially joined Bayern Munich on 18 July 2011, receiving the number 14 jersey. He made his Bundesliga debut on 13 August in a match against VfL Wolfsburg. On 26 October 2011, he scored his first competitive goal for the club in a DFB-Pokal match against FC Ingolstadt 04, coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute. On 7 December, he made his UEFA Champions League debut against Manchester City, becoming the youngest Japanese player to appear in the competition. On 21 April 2012, he made his first full Bundesliga start against Werder Bremen. He was also on the bench for the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final against Chelsea, becoming the first Japanese player to do so, though he did not feature in the match, which Bayern lost on penalties. Ultimately, Usami made only five official appearances for Bayern Munich during the 2011-12 season, and the club did not exercise their option to make his transfer permanent.

2.3. 1899 Hoffenheim (Loan)

On 23 May 2012, it was announced that Usami would join 1899 Hoffenheim on a one-year loan, also with an option for a permanent transfer. On 16 September, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for Hoffenheim in his first start for the club against SC Freiburg. Although he started as a regular at the beginning of the season, Hoffenheim experienced severe performance issues, leading to frequent managerial changes. As a result, Usami's playing time decreased towards the end of the season. On 24 April 2013, it was announced that he would leave Hoffenheim at the end of the 2012-13 season. He finished his spell with 20 league appearances and two goals.

2.4. Gamba Osaka (Second Spell)

Usami returned to his former club, Gamba Osaka, on 18 June 2013. In his first match back on 20 July, a J2 League fixture against Vissel Kobe, he immediately scored two goals, contributing to a crucial victory in the title race. He then formed an effective two-player attack with Brazilian forward Rocha, consistently scoring goals. He was awarded the J.League Monthly MVP in August for his five goals in five matches and again in November for four goals in four matches. Despite joining mid-season and playing less than half of the 42 league matches (18 appearances), he netted 19 goals, finishing second in the J2 scoring charts. His prolific scoring played a significant role in Gamba Osaka winning the J2 League title and securing promotion back to J1 after just one season.

In 2014, Usami's registered position was changed to forward. However, he suffered a left fibular tendon dislocation during training in mid-February, requiring an eight-week recovery period, his first long-term injury as a professional. He returned on 26 April in a J1 League match against Kawasaki Frontale and scored his first goal after returning on 10 May against Tokushima Vortis. After the 2014 FIFA World Cup break, Usami formed a productive partnership with new Brazilian forward Patric, consistently scoring and becoming a central figure in Gamba Osaka's second-half surge. He received the J.League Monthly MVP award in September. In the J.League Cup, he scored five goals in six matches en route to the final, earning the J.League Cup New Hero Award, the first for a Gamba Osaka player since Ryuichi Yasuda. In the final against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, he assisted Patric's equalizer, helping Gamba Osaka win their first J.League Cup in seven years. Although he endured an eight-match scoring drought in October due to intense marking, he regained form towards the end of the season, scoring two goals each in the Emperor's Cup semifinal against Shimizu S-Pulse and a league match against Vissel Kobe. In the Emperor's Cup final against Montedio Yamagata, he was involved in all goals, scoring two and assisting one. He finished 2014 with 21 official goals (10 in J1, 5 in J.League Cup, 6 in Emperor's Cup), the highest total among all J1 players, and was joint top scorer in the Emperor's Cup. He was also selected for the J.League Best Eleven for the first time, cementing his status as a key player in Gamba Osaka's J1 League title and domestic treble.

In 2015, Usami scored the winning goal in the Japanese Super Cup against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, contributing to Gamba's first Super Cup triumph in eight years. He started the league season in strong form, scoring in a club-record six consecutive matches from the J1 3rd match against Ventforet Kofu to the 8th match against Matsumoto Yamaga FC. He was named J.League Monthly MVP for April. On 27 June, in the final match of the first stage against Montedio Yamagata, he achieved his first J1 hat-trick, scoring three goals within seven minutes in the second half. He led the first stage with 13 goals in 17 appearances. However, his scoring pace significantly declined in the second stage, with six goals in 17 matches, partly due to his commitments with the national team. While his total of 19 J1 goals was a personal best, it fell short of his 20-goal target and the league's top scorer title. He also failed to score in three J.League Championship matches. In the Emperor's Cup quarter-final against Sagan Tosu, he scored two goals, his first in approximately three months, helping Gamba win their final match at Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium. He followed this with two goals in the Emperor's Cup semi-final against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, avenging their J.League Championship defeat. In 2015, Usami played a total of 66 official matches (including national team appearances), the highest among all J1 players.

2.5. FC Augsburg

On 20 June 2016, Usami's permanent transfer to German Bundesliga club FC Augsburg was announced. He signed a four-year contract, with an estimated transfer fee of 200.00 M JPY. He made his debut on 27 August, coming on as a substitute in the opening match against VfL Wolfsburg. On 15 December, he made his first start for Augsburg in a league match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. His first full match for the club came on 17 February 2017, against Bayer Leverkusen. In his first season (2016-17), Usami struggled to make an impact, making 11 appearances without scoring. Local media described his performance as "below expectations."

2.6. Fortuna Düsseldorf (Loan)

On 30 August 2017, Usami was loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf, a club in the 2. Bundesliga (German second division). He scored his first goal for the club on 10 September in his debut match against 1. FC Union Berlin. Despite a slow start in the first half of the season due to a lack of match fitness, his form improved significantly in the second half. On 11 March 2018, he scored in his fourth consecutive match, contributing to a victory against MSV Duisburg. On 13 May, in the final match of the season against league leaders 1. FC Nürnberg, Usami scored a crucial header, his eighth goal of the season, which helped Fortuna Düsseldorf secure a comeback victory, win the 2. Bundesliga title, and earn promotion to the Bundesliga. He finished the 2017-18 season with eight goals in 28 appearances.

2.7. Fortuna Düsseldorf (Second Loan)

After briefly returning to FC Augsburg, Usami rejoined Fortuna Düsseldorf on a season-long loan on 4 August 2018 for the 2018-19 season. Prior to this, he had extended his contract with Augsburg until 2021. On 10 November, he scored his first goal of the season against Hertha BSC in the 10th league match, leading to Fortuna's first victory in seven games. He concluded the 2018-19 season with one goal in 19 appearances.

2.8. Gamba Osaka (Third Spell)

On 24 June 2019, Usami's permanent transfer back to Gamba Osaka was announced, marking his third spell with the club after three years in Germany. In a press conference, he candidly stated that "it was clear to me that the second attempt [in Europe] also failed." He was given the number 33 jersey, the same number he wore in his first professional year. In his first match back in the J.League, a J1 League fixture against Nagoya Grampus on 20 July, he scored an equalizer in injury time. He then went on to score in three consecutive matches from the J1 30th match against Shonan Bellmare to the 32nd match against Vegalta Sendai. He finished the season with seven goals in 14 appearances, playing a crucial role in helping the team avoid relegation from J1.

In 2022, Usami was appointed vice-captain of Gamba Osaka. On 6 March, he sustained a right Achilles tendon rupture in a match against Kawasaki Frontale, forcing him into a long-term absence. After missing 27 matches, he made his return on 1 October in a match against Kashiwa Reysol, where he notably wore the captain's armband for the first time in his professional career.

In 2023, Usami was named the team captain, inheriting the number 7 jersey previously worn by club legend Yasuhito Endo. He continued as captain in 2024. On 24 February, in the opening match against FC Machida Zelvia, he scored a direct free-kick late in the game, initiating a streak of three consecutive goals. On his birthday, 6 May, he scored the opening goal with a mid-range shot after intercepting an opponent's pass in the Osaka Derby against Cerezo Osaka. This goal proved to be the winner, leading Gamba to their first J1 Osaka Derby victory in five years and adding a special touch to his birthday celebration. In June and October, he received the J1 Monthly MVP award. He also became the first player in Gamba Osaka's history to reach 100 club goals while still at the club. Furthermore, his late winning goal in the 33rd match against Consadole Sapporo in October, which was a major factor in his second Monthly MVP award, earned him the J1 League Best Goal Award for the first time.

3.1. Youth Teams

Usami was consistently a central player for Japan's youth national teams. He earned numerous individual accolades, including Most Valuable Player and top scorer awards, in tournaments such as the 2007 Toyota International Youth Football Tournament and the 2009 Copa Chivas. As part of the "Platinum Generation," alongside players like Takumi Miyayoshi, Yoshiaki Takagi, Ryo Miyaichi, and Gaku Shibasaki, he was considered a standout talent.

For the U-17 Japan national team, he made 16 appearances and scored 11 goals between 2007 and 2009. This included participation in the 2007 AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers (4 matches, 2 goals) and the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship (4 matches, 2 goals), where Japan reached the semifinals. In the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he played all three matches but failed to score, and Japan was eliminated in the group stage with three losses.

With the U-19 Japan national team, Usami made 13 appearances and scored 5 goals from 2009 to 2010. During the AFC U-19 Championship 2010, he notably scored a hat-trick against Vietnam, though Japan was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

For the U-23 Japan national team, he played 12 matches and scored 2 goals between 2011 and 2012. He was part of the squad for the 2011 London Olympics Asian Qualifiers (both the second and final rounds). In 2012, he participated in the Toulon Tournament (2 matches, 2 goals), where Japan exited in the group stage. He also represented Japan at the 2012 London Olympics, playing four matches, though he did not score, and Japan finished in fourth place.

3.2. Senior Team

Usami received his first call-up to the senior Japan national football team in June 2011 for the Kirin Cup, but he did not make his debut at that time. He later described the experience of his first national team training camp as invaluable.

On 19 March 2015, Usami was called up to the Japan national team for the first time in approximately two and a half years, under the new coach Vahid Halilhodžić. He finally made his senior international debut on 27 March 2015, in a friendly match against Tunisia. Four days later, on 31 March, he scored his first international goal with a brilliant dribble in a friendly against Uzbekistan. On 11 June, he made his first start for the national team against Iraq.

In May 2018, Usami was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and subsequently made the final squad. He made his World Cup debut on 24 June 2018, coming on as a substitute as a left midfielder in Japan's second group stage match against Senegal. He then started as a left midfielder in the third group stage match against Poland on 28 June. Overall, he appeared in two of Japan's four matches in the tournament but did not make a significant impact.

In March 2019, Usami received his first call-up under the Hajime Moriyasu regime since the 2018 World Cup. His last appearance for the national team was on 26 March 2019, against Bolivia. He has not been called up to the national team since.

Usami earned a total of 27 international caps and scored 3 goals for the senior Japan national team between 2015 and 2019.

4.1. Club

Notes:

• National cup includes appearances in the Emperor's Cup and DFB-Pokal.
• League cup includes appearances in the J.League Cup.
• Continental includes appearances in the AFC Champions League and UEFA Champions League.
• Other includes appearances in the Japanese Super Cup and J.League playoffs.

4.2. International

4.3. Debut and Milestone Appearances

• Official debut and first goal: 20 May 2009, AFC Champions League group stage vs. FC Seoul (Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium)
• J.League debut: 24 May 2009, J1 League 13th match vs. Kashima Antlers (Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium)
• J.League first goal: 24 April 2010, J1 League 8th match vs. FC Tokyo (Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium)
• J.League first hat-trick: 27 October 2013, J2 League 38th match vs. Tokushima Vortis (Naruto Otsuka Sports Park Pocari Sweat Stadium)
• J1 League first hat-trick: 27 June 2015, J1 League 1st stage 17th match vs. Montedio Yamagata (ND Soft Stadium Yamagata)
• Bundesliga debut: 13 August 2011, 2nd match vs. VfL Wolfsburg (Volkswagen Arena)
• Bundesliga first goal: 16 September 2012, 3rd match vs. SC Freiburg (Dreisamstadion)
• International A-match debut: 27 March 2015, Kirin Challenge Cup 2015 vs. Tunisia (Oita Bank Dome)
• International A-match first goal: 31 March 2015, JAL Challenge Cup 2015 vs. Uzbekistan (Ajinomoto Stadium)