Kuryu Matsuki moves to Europe after missing out on Japan squad for Paris Olympics. Will his physical strength and strong mentality enable him to carve out a new path?

After the 23rd round of J.League games on 13 July, Kuryu Matsuki left his club FC Tokyo in order to move to Europe. As of 19 July no official announcement had been made, but Matsuki is expected to be joining Premier League club Southampton. He is likely to be sent on loan next season in order to obtain an English work visa, with the left-footed midfielder possibly set to play for Goztepe in the Türkiye Süper Lig.

Matsuki, now 21, joined J1 side FC Tokyo from Aomori Yamada High School in 2022. Since his junior high school days he turned down offers from J.League club academies, instead opting to develop in  the school football ‘bukatsu’ system. This is fairly common in Japan, and his school is very prestigious, having produced many J.League players. Matsuki’s coach at the time was Go Kuroda, who has led Machida Zelvia to the top of the J1 table this season.

In high school Matsuki participated in major tournaments from his first year, and won all major titles in his third year. In 2021, as a sophomore, he trained with clubs in France and Germany and received offers, but instead chose to join FC Tokyo the following year. He made his debut as a starter in the opening game of the season, a rarity for a high school graduate rookie, and was continually used by coach Albert Puig Ortoneda, scoring twice in 31 appearances.

In his second season Tokyo changed coach and hired Peter Cklamovski in mid-season, but Matsuki remained a mainstay of the team. This season he was named as one of the club’s three captains, becoming the face of the team at the age of 20.

At FC Tokyo, he has played in a variety of positions, including defensive midfielder, central midfielder and No. 10. He is a highly skilled player, but his greatest assets are his physical strength and tough mentality. His 180cm, 76kg body, which he has trained since high school, is so robust that it was hard to believe he was a teenager when he made his debut, and he has never been intimidated by any opponent.

Legendary Nagatomo gives Matsuki’s mentality his stamp of approval

His mentor, Kuroda, says Matsuki has a “grit” about him, a mentality that must have been further honed during his two-and-a-half years at FC Tokyo. One of the reasons he chose  Tokyo in the first place was the presence of Yuto Nagatomo – the 37-year-old who played for Inter, Galatasaray and Marseille, as well as the Japan national team, and who still  features for the capital city club – as he wanted to learn professional behaviour on and off the pitch from the veteran.

What does Nagatomo think of the player16 years his junior?

“The possibilities are endless,” he said. “Not only in terms of his ability as a footballer, but also in terms of his strength and personality as a person. I think he is a treasure of Japanese football.”

After the game against Albirex Niigata, his last in the J.League, Matsuki said. “I want to stick to the path I have decided on and do my best to become the most successful player from FC Tokyo. No matter which team I go to, what I do will be the same. I just have to grab a position, play well and get results.”

Due to the impending transfer,  Matsuki was not selected for the national team for the Paris Olympics, but he will instead be able to join his new team for pre-season. Thus far he has chosen his own path through high school and the J.League, and has been successful in doing so. This season will he be able to carve out a new path, starting in Türkiye and leading to one of the big five leagues?