Junya Itō

Junya Itō
Itō with Reims in 2025
Personal information
Full name Junya Itō[1]
Date of birth (1993-03-09) 9 March 1993 (age 33)
Place of birth Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
 Genk
Number 10
Youth career
1999–2004 Kamoi SC
2005–2007 Yokosuka Seagulls
2008–2010 Zuyo High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Kanagawa University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Ventforet Kofu 30 (4)
2016–2020 Kashiwa Reysol 101 (19)
2019–2020 → Genk (loan) 42 (8)
2020–2022 Genk 78 (19)
2022–2025 Reims 99 (13)
2025– Genk 16 (3)
International career‡
2017– Japan 66 (14)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Silver medal – second place 2019 United Arab Emirates
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 March 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 October 2025

Junya Itō (伊東 純也, Itō Jun'ya; born 9 March 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger or a forward for Belgian Pro League club Genk and the Japan national team.

Club career

Early club career

After attending Kanagawa University for four years,[2] Itō first became a Special Designated Player for Ventforet Kofu,[3] and obtained a new contract with the J1 League side.[4] His first professional season attracted attention from Chiba-based Kashiwa Reysol, which signed him in January 2016.[5]

On 31 January 2019, Itō moved from Kashiwa Reysol to Genk on a one-year loan.[6] On 18 September, he made his Champions League debut as a starter in the group stage match against Red Bull Salzburg. On 30 March 2020, Itō signed permanently with Genk on a three-year contract.[7]

Stade Reims and return to Genk

On 29 July 2022, Itō joined Ligue 1 club Reims.[8] On 23 October, he scored the winner in a 2–1 victory against Auxerre.[9] In the 2023–24 Ligue 1 opening game on 12 August 2023, Itō scored a stunning opening goal against Marseille, but Reims eventually lost 2–1.[citation needed] In August 2025, following his club's relegation from Ligue 1 in the 2024–25 season, Itō returned to Genk and signed a three-year contract.[10]

International career

Itō made his Japan national team debut[clarification needed] in 2017.[citation needed] He was selected for Hajime Moriyasu's final World Cup squad in October 2022.[11]

Controversy

Adultery and sexual assault allegations

On 31 January 2024, Shukan Shincho reported that police had launched an investigation into Itō following a criminal complaint filed by two women alleging that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with them while they were intoxicated at a hotel in Osaka without their consent after a match for Japan against Peru in June 2023.[12]

In response to this report, the Japan Football Association decided on February 1 to withdraw Ito from the ongoing 2023 AFC Asian Cup after considering Ito's physical and mental condition.[13]

On 1 February, Itō filed a criminal complaint against the two women with the Osaka Prefectural Police for filing false complaints. On 19 February, he filed a lawsuit against the two women at the Osaka District Court, claiming that their sponsorship contracts were terminated due to false complaints and demanding 200 million yen in damages.[14]

The case was transferred to the Tokyo District Court in May and both Itō and the women were referred to prosecutors in July.[15][16] On 9 August, prosecutors dropped both charges against Ito and Ito's countersuit on his accusers, citing lack of evidence.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 March 2026[18][19][20][21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ventforet Kofu 2015 J1 League 30 4 2 0 6 0 — — 38 4
Kashiwa Reysol 2016 J1 League 33 7 2 0 6 0 — — 41 7
2017 J1 League 34 6 4 0 4 0 — — 42 6
2018 J1 League 34 6 1 1 0 0 6[a] 2 — 41 9
Total 101 19 7 1 10 0 6 2 — 124 22
Genk (loan) 2018–19 Belgian Pro League 13 3 0 0 — 1[b] 0 — 14 3
2019–20 Belgian Pro League 29 5 2 1 — 6[c] 0 1[d] 0 38 6
Total 42 8 2 1 — 6 0 1 0 52 9
Genk 2020–21 Belgian Pro League 38 11 4 1 — — — 42 12
2021–22 Belgian Pro League 39 8 1 0 — 8[e] 0 1[d] 0 49 8
2022–23 Belgian Pro League 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Total 78 19 5 1 — 8 0 1 0 92 20
Reims 2022–23 Ligue 1 35 6 1 0 — — — 36 6
2023–24 Ligue 1 31 3 0 0 — — — 31 3
2024–25 Ligue 1 33 4 5 0 — — 1[f] 0 39 4
Total 99 13 6 0 — — 1 0 106 13
Genk 2025–26 Belgian Pro League 16 3 0 0 — 7[b] 1 — 23 4
Career total 366 65 22 3 16 0 28 3 3 0 435 72
  1. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ a b Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  5. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearance in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs

International

As of match played 14 October 2025[22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2017 3 0
2018 4 2
2019 10 0
2020 3 0
2021 9 5
2022 13 2
2023 8 4
2024 10 1
2025 6 0
Total 66 14
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Itō goal.
List of international goals scored by Junya Itō[23]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 September 2018 Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan  Costa Rica 3–0 3–0 2018 Kirin Challenge Cup
2 12 October 2018 Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan  Panama 2–0 3–0 2018 Kirin Challenge Cup
3 30 March 2021 Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan  Mongolia 8–0 14–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 10–0
5 11 June 2021 Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan  Serbia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
6 11 November 2021 Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam  Vietnam 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 16 November 2021 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman  Oman 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 27 January 2022 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan  China 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 1 February 2022 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan  Saudi Arabia 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 20 June 2023 Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan  Peru 3–0 4–1 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup
11 9 September 2023 Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany  Germany 1–0 4–1 Friendly
12 12 September 2023 Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium  Turkey 4–2 4–2 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup
13 17 October 2023 Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan  Tunisia 2–0 2–0 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup
14 5 September 2024 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan  China 5–0 7–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Genk

Reims

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Japan (JPN)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ 「ガンバは強いっていうイメージはありますけど、やれないことはないと思います」ガンバ大阪 × ヴァンフォーレ甲府 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. ^ 神奈川大学 伊東純也選手 来季新加入内定のお知らせ. Ventforet Kofu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. ^ 手倉森ジャパンの切り札となるか...「やたらと速い」柏の"IJ"こと伊東純也とは. Soccer King (in Japanese). FromOne co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016.
  5. ^ 伊東　純也選手が移籍加入. Kashiwa Reysol Official Site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Football: Japan winger Junya Ito reveals title ambitions with Genk". Kyodo News. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Japanner Ito blijft definitief bij Genk: "Hij is een publiekslieveling"". sporza.be (in Dutch). 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Junya Ito onderweg naar Stade Reims". KRC Genk (in Dutch). Sanmax Projects. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Reims vs. Auxerre 2–1". Soccerway. Platform Group. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Football: Japan winger Ito rejoins Genk from relegated Reims". Mainichi Shimbun. 10 August 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Moriyasu names Japan squad for Qatar 2022". FIFA. 1 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Football: Japan player Junya Ito probed over sexual assault allegation". Kyodo News. 31 January 2024.
  13. ^ 伊東純也、虚偽告訴容疑の告訴状を大阪府警に提出 女性２人への性加害報道を受けて. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  14. ^ 【速報】伊東純也選手が性被害訴える女性側に「２億円」の損害賠償求め民事で提訴. Yahoo News (in Japanese). Japan: Yahoo. 19 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Japan footballer Junya Ito referred to prosecutors over sex assault claims". Kyodo News. 2 July 2024.
  16. ^ 性被害問題、伊東純也選手と女性２人の双方を書類送検…大阪地検が刑事処分を判断. Yomiuri (in Japanese). 2 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Sex assault case against Japanese footballer Junya Ito dropped". Kyodo News. 9 August 2024.
  18. ^ J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK) (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing, Inc. 6 January 2021. p. 84. ISBN 978-4905411529.
  19. ^ 2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing, Inc. 10 February 2016. p. 84. ISBN 978-4905411338.
  20. ^ 2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK) (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing, Inc. 8 February 2017. p. 66. ISBN 978-4905411420.
  21. ^ Junya Itō at Soccerway
  22. ^ "Profile". Japan National Football Team Database. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Itō, Junya". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Onuachu with an assist as Genk clinch Belgian Cup title after Standard Liege win". Goal. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  25. ^ Guillemet, Hugo (24 May 2025). "Le PSG s'offre une 16e Coupe de France après une victoire facile en finale contre Reims". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Paul Onuachu and Clinton Mata were included in the 2020/2021 Belgian Jupiler Pro League Golden Eleven". X (Twitter). Africa Facts Zone. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Assists - First Division A 2021/2022 stats". FotMob. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  28. ^ "These are the winners of the Pro League Awards". Belgian Pro League. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  29. ^ Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junya_It%C5%8D_(footballer,_born_1993)