Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Albirex Niigata.
Also this season
Earlier this season at Kashiwa Reysol — J-League Cup: 3 apps, 0g 0a, 270 min
The headline Season rating covers his time at Albirex Niigata; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 J-League Cupat Kashiwa Reysol | 3 | 0 | 0 | 270 | — |
 J1 Leagueat Kashiwa Reysol | 6 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 6.6 |
Scout report
E. Shirai is a 30-year-old central midfielder at Albirex Niigata, enjoying a standout season — 2 goals and 0 assists in 21 appearances, a Season grade of 32, top 15% of J1 League central midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 30.7, ranking 229th of 377 in the J1 League. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter (77.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.39 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Shirai.
Judged on this season alone, Shirai graded 32 — a strong campaign that ranks top 16% of the 65 central midfielders in the J1 League, on 2 goals, 0 assists and 2.386 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 24 → 32).
On long-term talent our Rating reads 31, 39th of 65 of the 65 central midfielders in the J1 League. At 30 Shirai is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 7 reflects that trajectory.
A career still climbing — Shirai is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.
Output in context · Albirex Niigata finished 20th of 20 · a relegation-threatened side
2.39 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 21 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (20th of 20) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 77.8% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Watch points
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 30.7, Shirai carries the 39th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the J1 League of 65, and he is posting that for a relegation-threatened side (Albirex Niigata finished 20th of 20) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.39 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1× now → 0.7× projected in three years).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
