Domestic Leagues
There were also debuts for up-and-coming players from Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Uzbekistan, so follow the-AFC.com as we look at what Asia’s finest have been up to as the 2025/26 action takes off in Europe.
England: A touch of Japan in the Community Shield
Japan’s international midfielder Daichi Kamada played 29 minutes as Crystal Palace emerged winners of the Community Shield with a 3-2 win on penalties over Liverpool after a 2-2 draw. His international captain Wataru Endo came on in the 71st minute for the English Premier League champions.
Japan’s international midfielder Daichi Kamada played 29 minutes as Crystal Palace emerged winners of the Community Shield with a 3-2 win on penalties over Liverpool after a 2-2 draw. His international captain Wataru Endo came on in the 71st minute for the English Premier League champions.
Scotland: Hatate seals it for Celtic
Japan international Reo Hatate struck the winner for Premiership champions Celtic in their 2-1 victory over Aberdeen. His fellow international and teammate Daizen Maeda played the full match while Shin Yamada made his debut in the 66th minute.
Japan international Reo Hatate struck the winner for Premiership champions Celtic in their 2-1 victory over Aberdeen. His fellow international and teammate Daizen Maeda played the full match while Shin Yamada made his debut in the 66th minute.
Aberdeen started Australian internationals Kusini Yengi, who played for 55 minutes and Nicolas Milanovic, who was on the pitch for 73 minutes.
In their first Premiership match, Aberdeen debuted Yengi in the 62nd minute and Milanovic in the 78th in their 2-0 defeat to Hearts, who fielded their fellow international Cameron Devlin from the 61st minute.
Devlin played the full match for Hearts in their following 3-2 win over Dundee United, who fielded his countryman Zachary Sapsford for 66 minutes.
Australian internationals Martin Boyle and Jack Iredale both made appearances in the 59th minute in Hibernian’s 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock.
Livingston captain and Australian international Ryan McGowan played a full match in their first Premiership win, a 3-1 result over fellow promoted side Falkirk. His teammate and countryman Tete Yengi, the younger brother of Aberdeen’s Kusini, came on in the 67th minute.
Australian Johnny Koutroumbis played the first half for Motherwell while Australian international Apostolos Stamatelopoulos came on in the 71st minute in their 0-0 stalemate with St Mirren. Another Australian international, Keanu Baccus, made his debut for St. Mirren and played 90 minutes.
Livingston captain and Australian international Ryan McGowan played a full match in their first Premiership win, a 3-1 result over fellow promoted side Falkirk. His teammate and countryman Tete Yengi, the younger brother of Aberdeen’s Kusini, came on in the 67th minute.
Australian Johnny Koutroumbis played the first half for Motherwell while Australian international Apostolos Stamatelopoulos came on in the 71st minute in their 0-0 stalemate with St Mirren. Another Australian international, Keanu Baccus, made his debut for St. Mirren and played 90 minutes.
Netherlands: Ogawa, Ueda contribute to wins
Japan international Koki Ogawa struck in the 52nd and 59th minutes in NEC Nijmegen’s 5-0 win over newly-promoted Excelsior FC in the Eredivisie. Fellow international Kodai Sano played the full match for Nijmegen as did Indonesia international Calvin Verdonk.
Japan international Koki Ogawa struck in the 52nd and 59th minutes in NEC Nijmegen’s 5-0 win over newly-promoted Excelsior FC in the Eredivisie. Fellow international Kodai Sano played the full match for Nijmegen as did Indonesia international Calvin Verdonk.
Japan international Ayase Ueda scored Feyenoord’s second goal in their 2-0 win over NAC Breda. Australian international Jordan Bos made his debut for Feyenoord in the 63rd minute while seasoned fellow international Max Balard played the full match for Breda.
Ueda’s fellow international Shunsuke Mito assisted Sparta Rotterdam’s only goal in the 63rd minute but it was not enough to stop PSV running away with a 6-1 win.
Indonesia international Dean James had a memorable debut in the Eredivisie when he assisted Go Ahead Eagles’ second goal four minutes into stoppage time in their 2-1 win over Fortuna Sittard. On the opposing end, fellow international Justin Hubner also made his first league appearance and played the full match.
PEC Zwolle brought in Indonesia international Eliano Reijnders in the 68th minute in their 1-0 win over FC Twente.
Belgium: Ito makes it three for three
Sint-Truidense’s Japanese international Ryotaro Ito scored in the 53rd minute as his side won 2-0 against FCV Dender. The 27-year-old has scored in all three of his side’s matches since the Belgian Pro League kicked off.
Sint-Truidense’s Japanese international Ryotaro Ito scored in the 53rd minute as his side won 2-0 against FCV Dender. The 27-year-old has scored in all three of his side’s matches since the Belgian Pro League kicked off.
His countrymen and teammates - keeper Leo Kokubo, winger Taiga Hata and midfielder Rihito Yamamoto started the match, while fellow international Shogo Taniguchi came on in the 72nd minute and compatriot Kaito Matsuzawa stepped on two minutes into stoppage time.
Japan international Atsuki Ito played a full match for Gent in their 3-2 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise.
Korea Republic international Hyeon-gyu Oh played a full 90 minutes for KRC Genk and assisted their sole goal in the 70th minute as his side went down 2-1 to Standard Liège.
Uzbekistan international Mukhammadali Urinboev made his debut for Royal Antwerp in the 86th minute in their 3-1 win over OH Leuven, who fielded Japanese duo Takahiro Akimoto and Takuma Ominami from the start.
Japan’s Isa Sakamoto played 87 minutes for Westerlo in their 1-0 defeat to Mechelen.
Photo: AFP
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