Wikipedia

Kōtarō Uchino

Kōtarō Uchino (内野 航太郎, Uchino Kōtarō; born 19 June 2004) is a Japanese footballer currently playing as a forward for J1 League club Vissel Kobe on loan from Brøndby IF.[1]

Kōtarō Uchino
内野 航太郎
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-06-19) 19 June 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Kanagawa, Japan
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Vissel Kobe
(on loan from Brøndby)
Number 40
Youth career
SCH FC
–2022 Yokohama F. Marinos
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 University of Tsukuba
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Brøndby 5 (0)
2026– → Vissel Kobe (loan) 3 (0)
International career
2021 Japan U17
2022 Japan U18
2023 Japan U19 4 (1)
2023–2024 Japan U23 10 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2022 HangzhouTeam
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place2024 QatarTeam
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:08, 19 April 2026 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Uchino began his career in the academy of Yokohama F. Marinos, where he established himself as a clinical goal-scorer, scoring twenty-one goals in the 2022 season, breaking the all-time record at that level for the number of goals scored in one league season.[2] In July of the same year, as his performances impressed Marinos' board, he was registered for the first team as a "Type 2 player" (term used in Japan to say the player is currently eligible to play both for the U-18s and for the first-team).[3]

Having spoken with Kosei Suwama and Ryotaro Tsunoda, who had both attended the University of Tsukuba, Uchino decided to commit to the university, rather than continue his career with Yokohama.[2] He left Yokohama's youth academy having scored over thirty goals in his last two seasons, including appearances at the Prince Takamado U-18 Premier League, the top division for youth teams in the country.[4]

University of Tsukuba

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Uchino committed to study at the University of Tsukuba ahead of the 2023 season, and he immediately had an impact on the school's football team, scoring seven goals in his first six games.[5] For his goal-scoring exploits, he was compared to both Shuhei Akasaki, who held the record for most goals as a university freshman with thirteen, as well as former University of Tsukuba alumni Kaoru Mitoma, who had also made a name for himself in Japan for his performances at university level.[5] He scored in Tsukuba's 3–2 away loss to Briobecca Urayasu in the Emperor's Cup.[6]

On 2024, he was the top scorer for his university at the Kanto University Football League, and joint-third overall, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances.[7] He scored the lone goal to tie the match for Tsukuba against the 2024 J1 League leaders at the time, Machida Zelvia. After the 1–1 draw at regulation time, Tsukuba was able to earn a giant-killing win on penalty shoot-out by 4–2, in which Uchino converted his penalty.[8]

Brøndby

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On 23 June 2025, Brøndby IF announced that Uchino would join from the University of Tsukuba on a contract running until June 2029, following a ten-day trial with the Danish Superliga club in March.[9] Football director Benjamin Schmedes described him as "one of Japan's greatest talents of his generation" with "unique individual qualities as a striker" and a "strong will to develop".[9] He joined the squad in early July and made an immediate impression, scoring both goals in a 2–1 pre-season friendly victory over Vejle on 5 July—the first a header from a Nicolai Vallys cross, the second a struck finish from the edge of the area.[10]

On 21 July 2025, Uchino made his competitive debut, coming on as a substitute for Clement Bischoff in a 3–0 Superliga opening-round victory over Silkeborg, becoming the second Japanese player to appear for Brøndby's first team after Yuito Suzuki.[11][12] His appearances became increasingly limited after Steve Cooper was appointed head coach in September 2025, and by February 2026 Uchino was being left out of match squads entirely.[13]

Loan to Vissel Kobe

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Having made ten appearances across all competitions without scoring in the league, Brøndby announced on 5 March 2026 that he would join Vissel Kobe on loan until 30 June, with no purchase option included in the agreement.[14][15] Schmedes said the "path to playing time here in Brøndby is a little too long" and that Uchino would return to the club in the summer with three years remaining on his contract.[15]

International career

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Having been routinely called up for youth team training camps, Uchino was called up to the Japanese under-19 side for the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament.[16] Buoyed by his performances for the University of Tsukuba football team, he stated that he wanted to score in every single game he played in.[16] However, Japan failed to impress at the tournament, finishing tenth out of twelve teams, with Uchino scoring once in four games.

On 4 April 2024, Uchino was called up to the Japan U23 squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[17]

Style of play

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During his time in the Yokohama F. Marinos academy, Uchino grew frustrated with his teammates inability to pick him out with their passes.[5] He began watching Shinzo Koroki as a reference for his movement, and developed a better understanding of attacking movement and how to escape his marker, allowing for his teammates to find him with their passes.[5]

He notably studied the games of the University of Tsukuba football team before joining, to fully grasp the team's style of play.[5] On his arrival at the university, he actively communicated with his new teammates, regardless of age, to inform them how he played, and how he would like the ball to be played into him.[5]

He would also watch videos of Norway and Manchester City forward Erling Haaland, but would flip the videos in order to be able to copy his movement and style of play, as Haaland is left-footed, while Uchino favours his right foot.[5]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 5 April 2026[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
University of Tsukuba 2023 —1[a]1——0011
2024 —3[a]1——0031
2025 —2[a]0——0020
Total —61——0061
Brøndby 2025–26 Danish Superliga 5020—3[b]0—100
Vissel Kobe (loan) 2026 J1 League 30000000—30
Career total 8081000000191
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in the Emperor's Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Conference League

Honours

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References

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  1. ↑ "FW内野航太郎選手 ブレンビーIFより期限付き移籍のお知らせ".
  2. 1 2 "狙うは前人未到の"ダブル得点王"。筑波大１年生FW内野航太郎の確信と固い決意「なりたい、いや、なります」" [Aiming for the unprecedented "double digit goals". University of Tsukuba 1st year forward Kōtarō Uchino's conviction and firm determination "I want to be, no, I will be"]. soccerdigestweb.com (in Japanese). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "横浜F・マリノスユース所属選手トップチーム登録のお知らせ" [Announcement of Yokohama F. Marinos Youth Player Top Team Registration]. f-marinos.com (in Japanese). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "プレミア2シーズンで30ゴール超え。横浜・Fマリノスユースの絶対的ストライカー、内野航太郎が向け続ける自分へのベクトル 【NEXT TEENS FILE.｜高円宮杯】" [Over 30 goals in two Premier League seasons. Kōtarō Uchino, the absolute striker of the Yokohama F Marinos Youth, continues to point towards his own vector [NEXT TEENS FILE.｜Prince Takamado Trophy]]. news.jsports.co.jp (in Japanese). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "筑波大・内野航太郎　「三笘薫さんが示している」大学からプレミアで活躍する道を追う" [University of Tsukuba, Kōtarō Uchino follows the path of being active in the premier from university, "Kaoru Mitoma shows"]. 4years.asahi.com (in Japanese). 30 May 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Briobecca Urayasu 3–2 University of Tsukuba". jfa.jp (in Japanese). 21 May 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "JR東日本カップ2024 第98回関東大学サッカーリーグ戦 1部". jufa-kanto.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "J１町田撃破の立役者、筑波大FW内野航太郎に三笘薫の姿が重なった。将来有望な19歳に期待せずにはいられない" [The key player in J1 League Machida's defeat, University of Tsukuba forward Kotaro Uchino, reminded me of Kaoru Mitoma. I can't help but have high hopes for this promising 19-year-old.]. soccerdigestweb.com (in Japanese). 12 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Brøndby IF henter japanske Kotaro Uchino" [Brøndby IF signs Japanese Kotaro Uchino]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). 23 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Toft, Emma Sparre Juul Hansen (5 July 2025). "Japansk drømmedebut i Brøndbys testsejr mod Vejle" [Japanese dream debut in Brøndby's pre-season victory against Vejle]. Campo (in Danish). Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Benthien, Kasper (19 July 2025). "Ekspertens bud: Disse spillere skal du holde øje med i Superligaen" [The expert's pick: These are the players to watch in the Superliga]. Campo (in Danish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Vilster, Michael (3 August 2025). "Optakt til Brøndby IF – Viborg FF" [Preview: Brøndby IF – Viborg FF]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Jensen, Kenneth (15 February 2026). "Brøndby er uden tre mand mod VFF – to er fravalgt" ["Brøndby are without three men against VFF – two have been left out]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Bellaiche, Emil (4 March 2026). "Afsløring: Brøndby sender angriber til Japan" [Exclusive: Brøndby send striker to Japan]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Kotaro Uchino udlejes til Vissel Kobe" [Kotaro Uchino loaned out to Vissel Kobe]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). 17 April 2026. Archived from the original on 19 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  16. 1 2 "大学リーグ得点ランク首位独走のＦＷ内野航太郎「出た試合で必ず点を取る」…Ｕ―１９日本代表、フランス遠征へ" [FW Kōtarō Uchino, who is the top scorer in the university league, “I will definitely score in every game I play”… U-19 Japan national team to travel to France]. hochi.news (in Japanese). 5 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "U-23日本代表 メンバー・スケジュール（4.6-5.4 カタール／ドーハ）AFC U23アジアカップ カタール2024" [U-23 Japan National Team Squad List (4.6-5.4 Qatar/Doha) AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 4 April 2024.
  18. ↑ Kōtarō Uchino at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "All Positions | Goals | All clubs | MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE | 2026 Player Stats". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
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