Junya Itō (伊東 純也, Itō Jun'ya; born 9 March 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger or a forward for Belgian Pro League club Genk and the Japan national team.
 Itō with Reims in 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Junya Itō[1] | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 9 March 1993 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Yokosuka, Japan | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||
| Positions | ||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Genk | |||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| 1999–2004 | Kamoi SC | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Yokosuka Seagulls | |||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Zuyo High School | |||||||||||||
| College career | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Kanagawa University | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2015 | Ventforet Kofu | 30 | (4) | |||||||||||
| 2016–2020 | Kashiwa Reysol | 101 | (19) | |||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | → Genk (loan) | 42 | (8) | |||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Genk | 78 | (19) | |||||||||||
| 2022–2025 | Reims | 99 | (13) | |||||||||||
| 2025– | Genk | 28 | (6) | |||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| 2017– | Japan | 73 | (16) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 June 2026 | ||||||||||||||
Club career
editEarly club career
editAfter attending Kanagawa University for four years,[2] Itō first became a Special Designated Player for Ventforet Kofu,[3] and obtained a new contract with the J1 League side.[4] His first professional season attracted attention from Chiba-based Kashiwa Reysol, which signed him in January 2016.[5]
On 31 January 2019, Itō moved from Kashiwa Reysol to Genk on a one-year loan.[6] On 18 September, he made his Champions League debut as a starter in the group stage match against Red Bull Salzburg. On 30 March 2020, Itō signed permanently with Genk on a three-year contract.[7]
Stade Reims and return to Genk
editOn 29 July 2022, Itō joined Ligue 1 club Reims.[8] On 23 October, he scored the winner in a 2–1 victory against Auxerre.[9] In the 2023–24 Ligue 1 opening game on 12 August 2023, Itō scored a stunning opening goal against Marseille, but Reims eventually lost 2–1.[citation needed] In August 2025, following his club's relegation from Ligue 1 in the 2024–25 season, Itō returned to Genk and signed a three-year contract.[10]
International career
editItō made his Japan national team debut[clarification needed] in 2017.[citation needed] He was selected for Hajime Moriyasu's final World Cup squad in October 2022.[11]
On 15 May 2026, Itō was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[12]
Controversy
editSexual assault allegations
editOn 31 January 2024, Shukan Shincho reported that police had launched an investigation into Itō following a criminal complaint filed by two women alleging that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with them while they were intoxicated at a hotel in Osaka without their consent after a match for Japan against Peru in June 2023.[13]
In response to this report, the Japan Football Association decided on February 1 to withdraw Ito from the ongoing 2023 AFC Asian Cup after considering Ito's physical and mental condition.[14]
On 1 February, Itō filed a criminal complaint against the two women with the Osaka Prefectural Police for filing false complaints. On 19 February, he filed a lawsuit against the two women at the Osaka District Court, claiming that their sponsorship contracts were terminated due to false complaints and demanding 200 million yen in damages.[15]
The case was transferred to the Tokyo District Court in May and both Itō and the women were referred to prosecutors in July.[16][17] On 9 August, prosecutors dropped both charges against Ito and Ito's countersuit on his accusers, citing lack of evidence.[18]
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ventforet Kofu | 2015 | J1 League | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | ||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2016 | J1 League | 33 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 7 | ||
| 2017 | J1 League | 34 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 6 | |||
| 2018 | J1 League | 34 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6[a] | 2 | — | 41 | 9 | ||
| Total | 101 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 124 | 22 | |||
| Genk (loan) | 2018–19 | Belgian Pro League | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | — | 14 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20 | Belgian Pro League | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 6[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 38 | 6 | ||
| Total | 42 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 9 | |||
| Genk | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 38 | 11 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 42 | 12 | |||
| 2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[e] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 49 | 8 | ||
| 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 78 | 19 | 5 | 1 | — | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 20 | |||
| Reims | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 36 | 6 | |||
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 3 | ||||
| 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 33 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 1[f] | 0 | 39 | 4 | |||
| Total | 99 | 13 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 106 | 13 | ||||
| Genk | 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 28 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 8[b] | 1 | — | 36 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 378 | 68 | 22 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 448 | 75 | ||
- ↑ Appearances in AFC Champions League
- 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- 1 2 Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Appearance in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs
International
edit- As of match played 29 June 2026[23]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 9 | 5 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 7 | 2 | |
| Total | 73 | 16 | |
- Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Itō goal.[24]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 September 2018 | Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan | 4 |  Costa Rica | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2018 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 2 | 12 October 2018 | Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan | 5 |  Panama | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2018 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 3 | 30 March 2021 | Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan | 22 |  Mongolia | 8–0 | 14–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 10–0 | ||||||
| 5 | 11 June 2021 | Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan | 24 |  Serbia | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 11 November 2021 | Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | 28 |  Vietnam | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 16 November 2021 | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman | 29 |  Oman | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 27 January 2022 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan | 30 |  China | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 1 February 2022 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan | 31 |  Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 20 June 2023 | Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan | 45 |  Peru | 3–0 | 4–1 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 11 | 9 September 2023 | Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany | 46 |  Germany | 1–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 12 | 12 September 2023 | Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium | 47 |  Turkey | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 13 | 17 October 2023 | Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan | 49 |  Tunisia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup |
| 14 | 5 September 2024 | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan | 55 | China | 5–0 | 7–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 28 March 2026 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland | 67 |  Scotland | 1–0 | 1–0 | Kirin World Challenge 2026 |
| 16 | 20 June 2026 | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico | 71 | Tunisia | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
Honours
editGenk
Reims
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2024–25[26]
Individual
- Belgian First Division A Team of the Season: 2020–21[27]
- Belgian First Division A top assist provider: 2021–22[28]
- Belgian First Division A Goal of the Season: 2021–22[29]
- Japan Pro-Footballers Association Best XI: 2022, 2023, 2024[30]
References
edit- ↑ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Japan (JPN)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ↑ 「ガンバは強いっていうイメージはありますけど、やれないことはないと思います」ガンバ大阪 × ヴァンフォーレ甲府 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ↑ 神奈川大学 伊東純也選手 来季新加入内定のお知らせ. Ventforet Kofu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ↑ 手倉森ジャパンの切り札となるか...「やたらと速い」柏の"IJ"こと伊東純也とは. Soccer King (in Japanese). FromOne co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016.
- ↑ 伊東 純也選手が移籍加入. Kashiwa Reysol Official Site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ↑ "Football: Japan winger Junya Ito reveals title ambitions with Genk". Kyodo News. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "Japanner Ito blijft definitief bij Genk: "Hij is een publiekslieveling"". sporza.be (in Dutch). 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ↑ "Junya Ito onderweg naar Stade Reims". KRC Genk (in Dutch). Sanmax Projects. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ↑ "Reims vs. Auxerre 2–1". Soccerway. Platform Group. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ↑ "Football: Japan winger Ito rejoins Genk from relegated Reims". Mainichi Shimbun. 10 August 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ↑ "Moriyasu names Japan squad for Qatar 2022". FIFA. 1 November 2022.
- ↑ "Mitoma misses out as Japan squad named". 15 May 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ "Football: Japan player Junya Ito probed over sexual assault allegation". Kyodo News. 31 January 2024.
- ↑ 伊東純也、虚偽告訴容疑の告訴状を大阪府警に提出 女性２人への性加害報道を受けて. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ↑ 【速報】伊東純也選手が性被害訴える女性側に「２億円」の損害賠償求め民事で提訴. Yahoo News (in Japanese). Japan: Yahoo. 19 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ↑ "Japan footballer Junya Ito referred to prosecutors over sex assault claims". Kyodo News. 2 July 2024.
- ↑ 性被害問題、伊東純也選手と女性２人の双方を書類送検…大阪地検が刑事処分を判断. Yomiuri (in Japanese). 2 July 2024.
- ↑ "Sex assault case against Japanese footballer Junya Ito dropped". Kyodo News. 9 August 2024.
- ↑ J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK) (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing, Inc. 6 January 2021. p. 84. ISBN 978-4905411529.
- ↑ 2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing, Inc. 10 February 2016. p. 84. ISBN 978-4905411338.
- ↑ 2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK) (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing, Inc. 8 February 2017. p. 66. ISBN 978-4905411420.
- ↑ Junya Itō at Soccerway
- ↑ "Profile". Japan National Football Team Database. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020.
- ↑ "Itō, Junya". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ↑ "Onuachu with an assist as Genk clinch Belgian Cup title after Standard Liege win". Goal. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ Guillemet, Hugo (24 May 2025). "Le PSG s'offre une 16e Coupe de France après une victoire facile en finale contre Reims". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ↑ "Paul Onuachu and Clinton Mata were included in the 2020/2021 Belgian Jupiler Pro League Golden Eleven". X (Twitter). Africa Facts Zone. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ "Assists - First Division A 2021/2022 stats". FotMob. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ "These are the winners of the Pro League Awards". Belgian Pro League. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards