Biography
Who is Shoya Nakajima?
Early career in Japan
Shoya Nakajima began his professional path in his home country of Japan. He started his career playing for Tokyo Verdy, which competed in the J2 League. Later, he moved to FC Tokyo, where he participated in the J1 League. These early experiences provided the foundation for his transition into international football leagues.
His development continued through participation in various youth levels for Japan. He was selected for the national under-17 squad in 2011, especially appearing in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico. During that tournament, he scored a goal in a match against Brazil. In August 2013, he also represented the Japanese under-20 team at the L'Alcúdia International Football Tournament held in Spain.
International success and Olympic play
Shoya Nakajima became a key figure for the Japanese under-23 team. In early 2014, he competed in the AFC U-22 Championship, where he scored against Australia and Iran. Later that year, he played in the 2014 Asian Games. His performance helped the team reach the quarter-finals during those tournaments.
In 2016, Shoya achieved significant success with the under-23 national squad. He participated in the AFC U-23 Championship, scoring twice against Iraq in the quarter-finals. The team eventually won the competition after a victory against South Korea, and he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Following this, he joined the Japanese Olympic team for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he played in three group stage matches.
Professional career in Europe and abroad
In August 2017, Shoya moved to Portugal to join Portimonense on loan. He performed well, recording ten goals and ten assists in 32 matches, which led to a permanent transfer in 2018. In February 2019, he transferred to the Qatari club Al Duhail for a large transfer fee. His time in Qatar was brief, and he soon moved again.
Shoya Nakajima joined the Portuguese club Porto in July 2019, signing a contract intended to last five years. He made his debut for the club in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round against Krasnodar. During his tenure at Porto, he scored his first goal in December 2019 during a Taça de Portugal match against Santa Clara. He later had loan spells at Al Ain in the UAE and a return to Portimonense. He also spent time in Turkey playing for Antalyaspor before returning to the Urawa Red Diamonds in 2023 and later Portimonense in 2026.
Senior national team play
Shoya received his first call-up to the senior Japan men's national football team in March 2018. Manager Vahid Halilhodžić selected him for matches against Mali and Ukraine. He made his debut on March 23, 2018, and scored his first international goal during a draw against Mali.
The following year, Hajime Moriyasu included Shoya in the squad for the 2019 Copa América held in Brazil. During this tournament, he scored the opening goal for Japan in the final group stage match against Ecuador. Although the match ended in a draw, his performance was a well-known part of his senior international record.
Birthday and age
Shoya Nakajima was born on August 23, 1994, which makes Shoya 32 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Shoya shares the date with 31 other famous people.
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