Shinji Kagawa

Club

Cerezo Osaka

Position

Attacking Midfield

Nationality

Japan

Date of birth

1989-03-17

Birthplace

Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Height

1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Weight

150 lbs

Shirt number

23

Shinji Kagawa (Japanese: 香川 真司 Kagawa Shinji, born 17 March 1989) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Greek club PAOK and the Japan national team. Kagawa began his professional career in his homeland with Cerezo Osaka before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2010. After two years with Dortmund, Kagawa signed for Manchester United on a four-year contract. Two years later, he returned to Dortmund. He is known for his "vision, technique, movement and deft passing". Kagawa holds the records for most appearances and goals by a Japanese player in UEFA club competitions.

Since making his senior international debut in May 2008, he has won over 90 caps and scored over 30 goals. On 29 November 2012, Kagawa was named Asian Football Confederation International Player of the Year.