Ataru Esaka
Japanese footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ataru Esaka (江坂 任, Esaka Ataru; born May 31, 1992) is a Japanese football player who plays as an Attacking midfielder for J1 League Fagiano Okayama.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ataru Esaka | ||
| Date of birth | 31 May 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Sanda, Hyōgo, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Fagiano Okayama | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2011 | Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Ryutsu Keizai University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015 | Thespakusatsu Gunma | 42 | (13) |
| 2016–2017 | Omiya Ardija | 65 | (15) |
| 2018–2021 | Kashiwa Reysol | 119 | (31) |
| 2021–2022 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 46 | (7) |
| 2023–2024 | Ulsan Hyundai[a] | 50 | (8) |
| 2025– | Fagiano Okayama | 29 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021– | Japan | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 September 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 25 March 2021, 17:36 (UTC) | |||
Career
Esaka made his debut for Thespakusatsu Gunma against Yokohama FC on 8 March 2015.[2] He scored his first goal for the club against Roasso Kumamoto on 15 March 2015, scoring in the 5th minute.[3]
Esaka made his debut for Omiya against Gamba Osaka on 11 March 2016.[4] He scored his first goal for the club against Sagan Tosu on 21 May 2016, scoring in the 74th minute.[5]
Esaka made his debut for Kashiwa against Vegalta Sendai on 25 February 2018.[6] He scored his first goals, a brace, against Gamba Osaka on 18 March 2018, scoring in the 8th and 18th minute.[7]
Esaka made his debut for Urawa against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on 9 August 2021.[8] He scored his first goal for the club on 14 August 2021 against Sagan Tosu, scoring a penalty in the 84th minute.[9]
On 26 December 2022, Esaka was announced at Ulsan Hyundai.[10]
On 23 December 2024, Esaka was announced at newly promoted club Fagiano Okayama from the 2025 season.[11]
International career
He made his debut for Japan national football team on 25 March 2021 in a friendly against South Korea.[12]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Thespakusatsu Gunma | 2015 | J2 League | 42 | 13 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 | 13 | |||||
| Total | 42 | 13 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 | 13 | |||||||
| Omiya Ardija | 2016 | J1 League | 31 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 2 | – | 42 | 10 | |||
| 2017 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 9 | ||||||
| Total | 65 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 3 | – | 80 | 19 | |||||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2018 | J1 League | 33 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | – | 45 | 12 | |
| 2019 | J2 League | 38 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | – | 43 | 12 | ||||
| 2020 | J1 League | 32 | 9 | – | 4 | 2 | 36 | 11 | ||||||
| 2021 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 119 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 1 | – | 143 | 37 | |||
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2021 | J1 League | 16 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 24 | 7 | |||
| 2022 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 43 | 6 | ||
| Total | 46 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 67 | 13 | ||
| Ulsan Hyundai/ Ulsan HD |
2023 | K League 1 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 10 | 1 | – | 33 | 4 | ||
| 2024 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 6 | ||||||
| Total | 50 | 8 | 6 | 1 | – | 16 | 1 | – | 72 | 10 | ||||
| Fagiano Okayama | 2025 | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Career total | 323 | 74 | 22 | 6 | 32 | 8 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 406 | 93 | ||
Honours
Kashiwa Reysol
Urawa Red Diamonds
Ulsan Hyundai / Ulsan HD
Notes
- Ulsan Hyundai changed its name to Ulsan HD in 2024
