Kento Shiogai

Kento Shiogai is a young Japanese forward who progressed rapidly from Yokohama F. Marinos through NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. He earned his first senior Japan caps in 2026 and was named to the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.

Shiogai captained his high school side at Kokugakuin University Kugayama before briefly attending Keio University. He signed with Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2024 under a special student designation and made his professional debut in April of that year. Within months he moved to NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie on a four-year contract, where he scored 14 goals across 42 appearances and claimed the 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament top-scorer award during Japan youth duty.

In January 2026 he stepped up to German football with VfL Wolfsburg on a four-and-a-half-year deal, making 12 league appearances and scoring once before the season's end. His rapid development earned him 2 senior Japan caps and a spot in the 2026 World Cup squad.