1. Overview
Tomoya Nakanishi is a Japanese footballer who plays as a forward. Born in Wakayama Prefecture on April 12, 1992, Nakanishi embarked on his professional career in 2015 with Kataller Toyama, where he notably scored on his J-League debut. His career has seen him play for several clubs across Japan's football leagues, including Verspah Oita, Arterivo Wakayama, and most recently Asuka FC. Throughout his career, Nakanishi has contributed significantly to his teams, overcoming challenges such as injuries, and even balancing his football career with other professional work during his tenure at Arterivo Wakayama.
2. Early life and youth career
Tomoya Nakanishi was born on April 12, 1992, in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. He stands 72 in (182 cm) tall and weighs 161 lb (73 kg), with a dominant right foot. Nakanishi's youth football development began at Iwade SSS, followed by Iwade Football Club Azul Jr. Youth. He then attended Shizuoka Gakuen High School from 2008 to 2010, where he continued to hone his skills. From 2011 to 2014, he played for Momoyama Gakuin University's football team, further preparing him for a professional career.
3. Club career
Nakanishi's professional club career began in 2015, marked by his debut and initial success with Kataller Toyama. He then experienced a loan spell before making permanent transfers to subsequent clubs, balancing his professional aspirations with various life circumstances.
3.1. Kataller Toyama
Tomoya Nakanishi joined Kataller Toyama in 2015, making his professional debut as a starter in the opening match of the J3 League season on March 15, 2015, against Blaublitz Akita at the Toyama Prefectural General Sports Park Athletics Stadium. In that same match, he scored his first ever J-League goal, which proved to be the winning goal for his team. Nakanishi continued to be a key player, participating in all league matches until the 27th fixture. However, during the 27th match, he sustained an injury to his right ankle, diagnosed as a ligament tear, which required an estimated six weeks for full recovery. At the time of this injury, Nakanishi was the team's top scorer, having netted six goals for Kataller Toyama. His contract with the club concluded on November 22, 2017.
3.2. Verspah Oita
On March 31, 2017, Nakanishi was transferred to Verspah Oita on a loan from Kataller Toyama. After the conclusion of his loan spell and his contract with Kataller Toyama, Nakanishi made a permanent move to Verspah Oita, joining the club fully from 2018. During his time at Verspah Oita, he continued to play in the Japan Football League. On December 12, 2017, Nakanishi also participated in the J-League Joint Tryout held at Fukuda Denshi Arena, a common event for players seeking new clubs. He remained with Verspah Oita until 2019.
3.3. Arterivo Wakayama
In 2020, Tomoya Nakanishi made a permanent transfer to Arterivo Wakayama. During his tenure with the club from 2020 to 2022, Nakanishi reportedly balanced his professional football commitments with working for a company, highlighting the dedication required of players in regional leagues. He continued to compete in the Kansai Soccer League Division 1. His departure from Arterivo Wakayama was officially announced on November 30, 2022.
3.4. Asuka FC
Following his departure from Arterivo Wakayama, Nakanishi joined Asuka FC on a permanent transfer in 2023. He played for Asuka FC in the Kansai Soccer League Division 1 during the 2023 season. After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Nakanishi's contract with Asuka FC was terminated, and his departure from the club was announced on December 29, 2023.
4. Club statistics
The following table details Tomoya Nakanishi's club performance throughout his professional career, including appearances and goals in various league and cup competitions.
| Club performance | League | Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | Total | ||||||
| 2015 | Toyama | J3 League | 26 | 6 | - | 26 | 6 | ||
| 2016 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |||
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | V Oita | Japan Football League | 11 | 2 | - | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |||
| 2019 | 14 | 2 | - | 14 | 2 | ||||
| 2020 | Wakayama | Kansai 1st Div | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | |||
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |||
| 2023 | Asuka | 4 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| J3 League Total | 50 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 7 | |||
| Japan Football League Total | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 4 | |||
| Kansai 1st Division Total | 25 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 4 | |||
| Career Total | 109 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 114 | 15 | |||
5. Playing style and position
Tomoya Nakanishi primarily plays as a forward, a position he has consistently held throughout his professional career. He is known for being a right-footed player. His attacking prowess was evident early in his J-League career, highlighted by his ability to score crucial goals, including a match-winning goal on his debut. He demonstrated a strong scoring ability, even becoming his team's top scorer during his initial season before an injury interrupted his progress.
6. Affiliated clubs
- Iwade SSS
- Iwade Football Club Azul Jr. Youth
- Shizuoka Gakuen High School (2008-2010)
- Momoyama Gakuin University (2011-2014)
- Kataller Toyama (2015-2017)
- Verspah Oita (loan) (March 2017 - December 2017)
- Verspah Oita (2018-2019)
- Arterivo Wakayama (2020-2022)
- Asuka FC (2023)