# 2023 Vissel Kobe season

The 2023 Vissel Kobe season was their 57th season in existence and the 8th consecutive season in the J1 League, since the club earned promotion back to it in 2013. In addition to the league, the club competed in the Emperor's Cup and the J. League Cup.

## Players
### Current squad

All players that have been registered to play during the season.
Players' ages here are displayed in accordance with the opening of the J1 season, 18 February 2023.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Fully signed in | Signed from / Last club |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| 1 | GK | Daiya Maekawa | (1994-09-08)8 September 1994 (aged 28) | 2017 | Kansai University |
| 28 | GK | Yuya Tsuboi | (1999-08-23)23 August 1999 (aged 23) | 2022 | Chuo University |
| 32 | GK | Ryotaro Hironaga | (1990-01-09)9 January 1990 (aged 33) | 2021 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 40 | GK | Phelipe Megiolaro | (1999-02-08)8 February 1999 (aged 24) | 2023 | Grêmio |
| – | GK | Taiga Kameda (T2) | (2007-09-05)5 September 2007 (aged 15) | – | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| Defenders |||||||
| 2 | DF | Nanasei Iino | (1996-10-02)2 October 1996 (aged 26) | 2022 | Sagan Tosu |
| 3 | DF | Matheus Thuler | (1999-03-10)10 March 1999 (aged 23) | 2023 | Flamengo |
| 15 | DF | Yuki Honda | (1991-01-02)2 January 1991 (aged 32) | 2023 | Kyoto Sanga |
| 17 | DF | Ryuho Kikuchi | (1996-12-09)9 December 1996 (aged 26) | 2020 | Renofa Yamaguchi |
| 19 | DF | Ryo Hatsuse | (1997-07-10)10 July 1997 (aged 25) | 2019 | Gamba Osaka |
| 23 | DF | Tetsushi Yamakawa | (1997-10-01)1 October 1997 (aged 25) | 2020 | University of Tsukuba |
| 24 | DF | Gotoku Sakai | (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 31) | 2019 | Hamburger SV |
| 25 | DF | Leo Osaki | (1991-07-08)8 July 1991 (aged 31) | 2018 | Tokushima Vortis |
| 37 | DF | Shogo Terasaka | (2004-06-06)6 June 2004 (aged 18) | 2023 | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| 41 | DF | Shohei Takahashi | (1991-10-27)27 October 1991 (aged 31) | On loan from 2023 | Machida Zelvia |
| – | DF | Takuma Eguchi (T2) | (2007-01-17)17 January 2007 (aged 16) | – | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| – | DF | Justin Honma (T2) | (2005-08-26)26 August 2005 (aged 17) | – | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| – | DF | Kaito Yamada (T2) | (2006-08-31)31 August 2006 (aged 16) | – | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| Midfielders |||||||
| 5 | MF | Hotaru Yamaguchi | (1990-10-06)6 October 1990 (aged 32) | 2019 | Cerezo Osaka |
| 14 | MF | Koya Yuruki | (1995-07-03)3 July 1995 (aged 27) | 2022 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| 16 | MF | Mitsuki Saito | (1999-01-10)10 January 1999 (aged 24) | On loan for 2023 | Shonan Bellmare |
| 18 | MF | Haruya Ide | (1994-03-25)25 March 1994 (aged 28) | 2023 | Tokyo Verdy |
| 22 | MF | Daiju Sasaki | (1999-09-17)17 September 1999 (aged 23) | 2018 | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| 27 | MF | Toya Izumi | (2000-12-02)2 December 2000 (aged 22) | 2023 | Biwako Seikei Sport College |
| 31 | MF | Yuya Nakasaka | (1997-08-05)5 August 1997 (aged 25) | 2016 | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| 33 | MF | Takahiro Ogihara | (1991-10-05)5 October 1991 (aged 31) | 2022 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| 34 | MF | Yusei Ozaki | (2003-07-26)26 July 2003 (aged 19) | 2022 | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| 36 | MF | Shuto Adachi | (2004-07-15)15 July 2004 (aged 18) | 2023 | Vissel Kobe U18 |
| 38 | MF | Juzo Ura | (2004-05-21)21 May 2004 (aged 18) | 2023 | Higashi Fukuoka High School |
| – | MF | Mitsuki Hidaka | (2003-05-11)11 May 2003 (aged 19) | 2022 | Aioi Gakuin High School |
| – | MF | Kakeru Yamauchi | (2002-01-06)6 January 2002 (aged 21) | 2024 | University of Tsukuba |
| Forward |||||||
| 10 | FW | Yuya Osako | (1990-05-18)18 May 1990 (aged 32) | 2021 | Werder Bremen |
| 11 | FW | Yoshinori Muto | (1992-07-15)15 July 1992 (aged 30) | 2021 | Newcastle |
| 21 | FW | Shuhei Kawasaki | (2001-04-28)28 April 2001 (aged 21) | On loan for 2023 | Portimonense |
| 26 | FW | Jean Patric | (1997-05-14)14 May 1997 (aged 25) | 2023 | Cerezo Osaka |
| 29 | FW | Lincoln | (2000-12-16)16 December 2000 (aged 22) | 2021 | Flamengo |
| 30 | FW | Stefan Mugoša | (1992-02-26)26 February 1992 (aged 30) | 2022 | Incheon United |
| 35 | FW | Niina Tominaga | (2004-07-18)18 July 2004 (aged 18) | 2023 | Vissel Kobe U18 |

### Out on loan

| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Joined on | On loan at |
| – | MF | | Tatsunori Sakurai | (2002-07-26)26 July 2002 (aged 20) | 2020 | Tokushima Vortis |

### Left mid-season

| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Transferred to | Transfer type |
| 8 | MF | | Andrés Iniesta | (1984-05-11)11 May 1984 (aged 38) | – | Contract expiration |

## Transfers

Transfers in :
| Join on | Pos. | Player | Moving from | Transfer type |
| 5 Jun | MF | Mitsuki Hidaka | Atlético Paso | Loan return |
| 28 Apr | MF | Kakeru Yamauchi | University of Tsukuba | Loan transfer; 2023 DSP |
| 22 Mar | FW | Lincoln | Cruzeiro | Loan return |
| 16 Mar | DF | Shohei Takahashi | Machida Zelvia | Loan transfer |
| Pre-season | GK | Phelipe Megiolaro | Grêmio | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | DF | Yuki Honda | Kyoto Sanga | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | DF | Matheus Thuler | CR Flamengo | Full transfer; Loan made permanent |
| Pre-season | DF | Shogo Terasaka | Vissel Kobe U18s | Promotion |
| Pre-season | MF | Haruya Ide | Tokyo Verdy | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | MF | Toya Izumi | Biwako Seikei Sport College | Free transfer |
| Pre-season | MF | Juzo Ura | Higashi Fukuoka HS | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | MF | Mitsuki Saito | Shonan Bellmare | Loan transfer |
| Pre-season | MF | Shuto Adachi | Vissel Kobe U18s | Promotion |
| Pre-season | FW | Jean Patric | Cerezo Osaka | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | FW | Shuhei Kawasaki | Portimonense | Loan transfer |
| Pre-season | FW | Niina Tominaga | Vissel Kobe U18s | Promotion |
Transfers out :
| Leave on | Pos. | Player | Moving to | Transfer type |
| 2 July | MF | Andrés Iniesta | – | Contract expiration |
| Pre-season | GK | Hiroki Iikura | Yokohama F. Marinos | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | GK | Genta Ito | FC Imabari | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | DF | Yuki Kobayashi ('00) | Celtic | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | DF | Nagisa Sakurauchi | FC Imabari | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | DF | Tomoaki Makino | – | Retirement |
| Pre-season | MF | Yuki Kobayashi ('92) | Consadole Sapporo | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | MF | Shion Inoue | Yokohama FC | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | MF | Yuta Goke | Vegalta Sendai | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | FW | Yutaro Oda | Heart of Midlothian | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | FW | Noriaki Fujimoto | Kagoshima United | Full transfer |
| Pre-season | FW | Bojan Krkić | – | Retirement |

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| J1 League | 34 February | -- | Matchday 1 | TBD | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 60 | 29 | +31 | 061.76 |
| Emperor's Cup | 7 June | -- | Second round | TBD | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 075.00 |
| J.League Cup | 8 March | -- | Group stage | Group stage | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 033.33 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 44 | 26 | 9 | 9 | 77 | 46 | +31 | 059.09 |
Source: Soccerway

### J1 League
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Vissel Kobe (C) | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 60 | 29 | +31 | 71 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite league stage |
| 2 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 63 | 40 | +23 | 64 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite league stage |
| 3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 58 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League Two group stage |
| 4 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 57 | |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 43 | 34 | +9 | 52 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 12 August 2023. Source: Soccerway

#### Matches

The opening match was released by the J.League on 23 December 2022. The full league fixtures were released on 20 January 2023.
* ↑ The fixture had to be postponed to the effect of Typhoon No.2 in public transportation within the Kansai region, which was partially suspended. Both clus would be unable to travel on both on the day before and on the day when the match was scheduled to happen. The rescheduled date is unconfirmed as of 3 June 2023.

### Emperor's Cup

As Vissel is a J1 club, it started the competition on the second round.

### J.League Cup

The club started the competition at the group stage.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Nagoya Grampus | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 15 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 9 | |
| 3 | Yokohama FC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 6 | |
| 4 | Vissel Kobe | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 6 | |
* 1 2 Head-to-head points: Yokohama FC 3, Vissel Kobe 3. Head-to-head goal differences: Yokohama FC +1, Vissel Kobe –1.

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of 29 September 2023
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | J1 League | J1 League | Emperor's Cup | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | J.League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | JPN | Daiya Maekawa | 34 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | GK | JPN | Yuya Tsuboi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | GK | BRA | Phelipe Megiolaro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | JPN | Nanasei Iino | 20 | 0 | 3+12 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | BRA | Matheus Thuler | 25 | 1 | 14+8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | JPN | Yuki Honda | 32 | 0 | 24+3 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | JPN | Ryuho Kikuchi | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | JPN | Ryo Hatsuse | 35 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | JPN | Tetsushi Yamakawa | 25 | 0 | 20+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | JPN | Gotoku Sakai | 28 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | JPN | Leo Osaki | 27 | 0 | 9+11 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | JPN | Shogo Terasaka | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 41 | DF | JPN | Shohei Takahashi | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 51 | DF | JPN | Justin Homma | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 5 | MF | JPN | Hotaru Yamaguchi | 34 | 4 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | HUN | Bálint Vécsei | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | JPN | Koya Yuruki | 33 | 5 | 24+3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | JPN | Mitsuki Saito | 28 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | JPN | Haruya Ide | 18 | 0 | 9+4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | JPN | Mizuki Arai | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | JPN | Daiju Sasaki | 36 | 6 | 17+11 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | JPN | Toya Izumi | 14 | 1 | 1+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | JPN | Yuya Nakasaka | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | JPN | Takahiro Ogihara | 13 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | JPN | Yusei Ozaki | 9 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | JPN | Shuto Adachi | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 38 | MF | JPN | Juzo Ura | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 44 | MF | JPN | Mitsuki Hidaka | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 64 | MF | ESP | Juan Mata | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 10 | FW | JPN | Yuya Osako | 34 | 22 | 27+2 | 20 | 0+4 | 1 | 0+1 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | JPN | Yoshinori Muto | 34 | 10 | 28+1 | 9 | 0+4 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | JPN | Shuhei Kawasaki | 13 | 3 | 2+2 | 1 | 3+1 | 2 | 2+3 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | BRA | Jean Patric | 29 | 6 | 4+18 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | FW | BRA | Lincoln | 10 | 4 | 0+5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 35 | FW | JPN | Niina Tominaga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| Players loaned or transferred out during the season ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ESP | Sergi Samper | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Andrés Iniesta | 6 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | MNE | Stefan Mugoša | 4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |