Shinji Kagawa - Japanese football player
Shinji Kagawa is a Japanese professional football player. He currently plays for Belgian First Division A club Sint-Truiden and the Japan national team. His playing position is a midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese players of all time.
Shinji Kagawa has previously played for Cerezo Osaka, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Dortmund II, Besiktas (loan), Zaragoza, and PAOK. He holds the record for most appearances and goals by a Japanese player in UEFA club competitions.
On the international level, Shinji Kagawa has represented Japan at various age levels. He has represented Japan at U19, U20, U23, and the senior level. He made his senior international team debut for Japan on 24 May 2008. He has represented Japan at two consecutive Asian Cups (in 2011 and 2015), two consecutive FIFA World Cups (2014 and 2018), and one Confederations Cup (in 2013). He was part of the Japan squad that won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. From 2008-19, he made 97 caps and scored 31 goals for Japan.
Early Life and Family
Shinji Kagawa was born on 17 March 1989. His birthplace is Kobe, Japan. He holds Japanese nationality and belongs to the Japanese-Asian ethnicity. Likewise, as per his birthdate, his zodiac sign is Pisces. He is the single child of his parents. Detail about his parents has been kept secret and has not been disclosed yet. About his education, he graduated his high school from Yaotome Junior High School.
Shinji Kagawa Football Career
Shinji Kagawa started playing football at the age of 5. Shinji Kagawa joined Marino Football Club from 1994 to 1999, Kobe NK Football Club from 1999 to 2001, and FC Miyagi Barcelona in Sendai from 2001 to 2005.
Cerezo Osaka
- In 2006, Shinji Kagawa signed for Cerezo Osaka and became the first player in Japan to sign a professional contract before graduating from high school.
- During his 2006-07 season, Shinji Kagawa gained a regular position but the club missed promotion to the J.League Division 1.
- During his 2008-09 season, Shinji Kagawa helped the team to get back to the J. League Division 1 becoming the top scorer of the J. League Division 2.
- At Cerezo Osaka, Shinji Kagawa made 127 appearances for the club, scoring 57 goals and providing 17 assists in all the competitions.
Borussia Dortmund
- Following his success at Cerezo Osaka, in the summer of 2010, Shinji Kagawa transferred from Cerezo to Borussia Dortmund for €350,000 and went on to win two Bundesliga (in 2010-11, 2011-12) and one DFB-Pokal (in 2011-12).
Manchester United
- On 1 July 2012, Shinji Kagawa signed for Premier League club Manchester United for an initial transfer fee of £12 million, with a further £5 million in possible add-ons making him the first Japanese player to join the club. He made his Premier League debut for the club on 20 August 2012 in a 1-0 defeat away to Everton. On 2 March 2013, he scored his first hat-trick for United and also became the first Asian player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League in his team's 4-0 home win against Norwich City. In his first season, he made 26 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals and providing 6 assists in all the competitions as Manchester United won the Premier League that season and made him the first Japanese player to win a Premier League title.
- During his 2013-14 season, Shinji Kagawa made 30 appearances for the club, providing 4 assists in all the competitions.
Return to Dortmund
- On 31 August 2014, Shinji Kagawa officially returned to his former club, Borussia Dortmund, for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £6.5 million and signing a contract until 30 June 2018. He was assigned shirt number 7. On his return debut, he made 38 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals and providing 10 assists in all the competitions.
- During his 2015-16 season, Shinji Kagawa made 46 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals and providing 13 assists in all the competitions.
- During his 2016-17 season, Shinji Kagawa made 30 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals and providing 8 assists in all the competitions as Borussia Dortmund won the DFB-Pokal that season.
- On 14 July 2017, Shinji Kagawa extended his contract with Dortmund until 2020. During his 2017-18 season, he made 27 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals and providing 7 assists in all the competitions.
- In the first half of the 2018-19 season, Shinji Kagawa played just four times for Dortmund of a combination of injury and coach Lucien Favre's preference to play Marco Reus as a central attacking midfielder.
Besiktas (loan)
- On 31 January 2019, Shinji Kagawa joined Turkish club Besiktas on loan for the remainder of the 2018-19 season where he made 14 appearances for the club, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists in all the competitions.
Real Zaragoza
- On 9 August 2019, Shinji Kagawa completed a transfer to Real Zaragoza of Spain's Segunda Division, penning a two-year contract. He made his debut for the club on 17 August 2019 in a 2-0 win against Tenerife at La Romareda. On 25 August 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against Ponferradina. During his 2019-20 season, he made 36 appearances for the club, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists in all the competitions. Additionally, on 2 October 2020, his contract was terminated by Zaragoza.
PAOK
- On 27 January 2021, Shinji Kagawa joined Super League Greece club PAOK on a one-and-a-half-year contract where he made 12 appearances for the club in all the competitions as he won the Greek Cup that season.
Sint-Truiden
- On 10 January 2022, Shinji Kagawa signed with the Belgian club Sint-Truiden. He made his debut for the club on 13 February 2022 in a 1-0 win against Union SG. In his first season, he made only 6 appearances for the club, providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
- On 27 August 2022, Shinji Kagawa scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 win against KV Mechelen.
International Career
- Shinji Kagawa has represented Japan at various age levels.
- Shinji Kagawa has represented Japan at U19, U20, U23, and the senior level.
- Shinji Kagawa played as a member of the Japan U20 national team in the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup held in Canada.
- In 2008, Shinji Kagawa was also selected to play as a member of the Japan team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Shinji Kagawa made his senior international team debut for Japan on 24 May 2008 in a 1-0 friendly win against Ivory Coast.
- On 9 October 2008, Shinji Kagawa scored his first senior international goal for Japan in a 1-1 friendly draw against U.A.E.
- Shinji Kagawa was part of the Japan squad that won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
- On 29 November 2012, Shinji Kagawa was named Asian Football Confederation International Player of the Year.
- Shinji Kagawa has represented Japan at two consecutive Asian Cups (in 2011 and 2015), two consecutive FIFA World Cups (2014 and 2018), and one Confederations Cup (in 2013).
- From 2008-19, Shinji Kagawa made 97 caps and scored 31 goals for Japan.
Is Shinji Kagawa in relationship?
Looking at his personal life, Shinji Kagawa is not married. Currently, he is focusing on his professional career. He might be dating a beautiful girl at present or might be single. Previously, he was in a romantic relationship with Ameri Ichinose a Japanese porn star, and shortly dated Margaret Natsuki who is a TV presenter, and model in Japan in the year 2014. As of 2022, he is reportedly single and is not dating anyone. Any updates on his love life will be updated here.
Shinji Kagawa’s Net Worth and Salary
Shinji Kagawa is a Japanese professional football player who currently plays for Belgian First Division A club Sint-Truiden. He is a very talented football player and with his continuous hard work and dedication, he has accumulated a huge amount of money from his football career which is his major source of wealth. His income is from contracts, salaries, bonuses, and endorsements. He has endorsement deals with Adidas and Audi, which pay him a lot of money, but the details of the deals aren’t public. As of 2022, his net worth is believed to be around $25 million but his salary is not revealed yet. In addition, his market value is around €800K. Any updates on his salary will be updated here soon.
Shinji Kagawa’s Height and Weight
Shinji Kagawa stands at the height of 1.75m i.e. 5 feet and 9 inches tall. He has a bodyweight of 68kg. Moreover, he has an athletic body build. He has a well-maintained body but the measurements like biceps size, hip size, waist size, shoe size, etc. are missing at the moment. His eye color and hair color are dark brown. His sexual orientation is straight. Overall, he has got a healthy body with no tattoos on his body parts.
Shinji Kagawa’s Transfer History
- Shinji Kagawa joined Marino Football Club from 1994 to 1999, Kobe NK Football Club from 1999 to 2001, and FC Miyagi Barcelona in Sendai from 2001 to 2005.
- In 2006, Shinji Kagawa signed for Cerezo Osaka and became the first player in Japan to sign a professional contract before graduating from high school.
- In the summer of 2010, Shinji Kagawa transferred from Cerezo to Borussia Dortmund for €350,000.
- In July 2012, Shinji Kagawa signed for Premier League club Manchester United for an initial transfer fee of £12 million, with a further £5 million in possible add-ons making him the first Japanese player to join the club.
- In August 2014, Shinji Kagawa officially returned to his former club, Borussia Dortmund, for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £6.5 million and signing a contract until 30 June 2018.
- In January 2019, Shinji Kagawa joined Turkish club Besiktas on loan for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
- In August 2019, Shinji Kagawa completed a transfer to Real Zaragoza of Spain's Segunda Division, penning a two-year contract.
- In January 2021, Shinji Kagawa joined Super League Greece club PAOK on a one-and-a-half-year contract.
- In January 2022, Shinji Kagawa signed with the Belgian club Sint-Truiden.
Awards and Achievements
Honors
- Won the 2010-11, 2011-12 Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.
- Won the 2011-12, 2016-17 DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund.
- Won the 2012-13 Premier League with Manchester United.
- Won the 2013 FA Community Shield with Manchester United.
- Won the 2020-21 Greek Cup with PAOK.
- Won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with Japan.
Individual
- Won the 2010 Bundesliga Player of the Hinrunde.
- Won the 2012 AFC Asian International Player of the Year.
- Kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2010-11, 2011-12
- Kicker Bundesliga first half of the 2012 season, only one selected for world-class
- VDV Team of the Season: 2011-12
- ESM Team of the Season: 2011-12
- Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2015-16
- IFFHS Asian Men's Team of All Time: 2021
