Masaki Watai
Japanese footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Masaki Watai (渡井 理己, Watai Masaki; born 18 July 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Kashiwa Reysol.
Date of birth
18 July 1999
Place of birth
Fujinomiya, Japan
Height
1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position
Attacking midfielder
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 July 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Fujinomiya, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kashiwa Reysol | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2017 | Shizuoka Gakuen High School | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2024 | Tokushima Vortis | 119 | (14) |
| 2022–2024 | → Boavista (loan) | 28 | (1) |
| 2025– | Kashiwa Reysol | 28 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 August 2026 | |||
Career
Watai was born in Shizuoka Prefecture on 18 July 1999. After graduating from Shizuoka Gakuen High School, he joined J2 League club Tokushima Vortis in 2018. On 6 June, he debuted against Tochigi SC in Emperor's Cup.[1]
Watai was loaned to Portuguese club, Boavista for the 2022–23 season. On 8 July 2023, Watai was again sent on a season-long loan to Boavista, this time with a future option to buy.[2]
On 29 December 2024, Watai announce official transfer to J1 club, Kashiwa Reysol from 2025 season.[3]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tokushima Vortis | 2018 | J2 League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 33 | 6 | |||
| 2020 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 6 | ||||
| 2021 | J1 League | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | J2 League | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 119 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 135 | 14 | ||
| Boavista (loan) | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | |
| 2023–24 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | |||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2025 | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 147 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 168 | 15 | ||
- Includes Emperor's Cup, Taça de Portugal
- Includes J. League Cup, Taça da Liga
- Appearances in J2 League promotion play-offs
