Yuya Osako

Yuya Osako (大迫 勇也, Ōsako Yūya; born 18 May 1990) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Vissel Kobe.

On 6 January 2014, Osako joined German side TSV 1860 Munich for the second half of the 2014–2015 season. He scored on his debut, the opener in a 1–1 draw against Fortuna Düsseldorf. He finished the season with 6 goals in 15 appearances.

In June 2014, Osako transferred to 1. FC Köln signing a three-year contract. It was reported Kashima Antlers received a transfer fee of €1.5 million while 1860 Munich earned €500,000. In October 2016, he agreed a contract extension until summer 2020 with Köln. On 28 April 2018, he played as Köln lost 3–2 to SC Freiburg which confirmed their relegation from the Bundesliga.

On 16 May 2018, it was announced that Osako would join Werder Bremen for the 2018–19 season. He scored on his debut on 19 August 2018, netting the first goal with a header in a 6–1 win against Wormatia Worms in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.

In February 2019, he was voted the 2018 Japanese Footballer of the Year.

Osako returned to Japan in August 2021, joining Vissel Kobe.

In May 2018, he was named in the Japan national team's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In the opening match against Colombia, he scored the second goal for Japan by a header, thus helping Japan become the first Asian team to beat a South American team in the World Cup history. He also appeared for Japan in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup hosted by the United Arab Emirates. He scored four goals to help them reach the final, where they eventually lost to Qatar, 3–1.

Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2018, 2023

J1 League Monthly MVP: August 2013, May 2023, July 2023

AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019

Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards: Best XI (2023)