Breakthrough Star Sota Kitano Could Garner European Interest

After the first J-League viewing of the season meant I would be watching the Osaka derby, I was curious about the youngest player on the pitch - Sota Kitano. Starting in sucha crucial role on the pitch- CAM- the youngster was bound to be someone impressive.

Numerous J-League professionals, scouts, and fans have brought this name up to me ever since I watched him ignite the Panasonic Stadium on opening day.

There is certainly excitement surrounding the talent who had introduced himself in what was one of the most important games for Cerezo. Sota Kitano had immediately earned his place on my J-League scouting shortlist.

In Cerezo Osaka's 4-5-1 he sits in the heart of the attack, often overlapping to the left hand side utilzing the striker's hold-up play. His intelligence seems to be at an elite level whilst his physical attributes remain to be worked on.

But just at the age of 20, Kitano has been a major point of interest for many fans this season as he had just come back from a meniscus injury he suffered in the late 2024 J-League season, taking him out of the last four matches.

However, the young hotshot has so far already beaten his best season stats - bagging four goals and an assist in five matches.

I have had some interesting chats with fellow football professionals about Kitano, namely one being valuable contact, friend and fellow scout Kosuke Tobe.

CREDITS; KOSUKE TOBE

Kosuke had shown me his analysis on the attacking midfielder, his in-depth analytical skills and elite knowledge of the sport showed me exactly what kind of player Kitano is.

Valued at 450k euro, there is no doubt that Sota Kitano will eventually begin gathering European interest; namely from countries such as Belgium, Scotland, and other nations from which clubs have invested in Japanese talent.