Over the past few decades, we have seen some of the very best players from Asia come over to Europe to apply their trade.
From Ji-Sung Park, who became a fan favorite at Manchester United.
To ex-Celtic player Shunsuke Nakamura whose long-range belters got everybody talking in the late 2000s.
Now, if you are wondering who the best footballers from Asia are currently playing.
You have come to the right place, as here I will go through the five best that are currently playing a significant role for clubs in Europe’s main leagues.
Table of Contents
N0. 1 – Son Heung Min (손흥민)
- Nationality – Korean
- Current Club – Tottenham Hotspur FC
- Position – Winger
Arguably the most famous sportsperson in all of Korea, Son Heung Min has single-handled paved the way for thousands of young and upcoming Asian footballers.
After relocating to Germany to pursue a footballing career at the age of 16, he soon found himself playing regularly in Hamburg SV’s youth academy.
His driven attitude to reach the top gave him the confidence to outshine his peers and earn himself a professional contract on his 18th birthday. A quick rise to the elite level.
Son’s impressive dribbling ability and dogged determination were noticed by many clubs, which led to Bayer Leverkusen purchasing him for a club-record transfer in June 2013.
The young Korean winger scored for fun and helped his team secure a Champions League spot for the 2014-15 season.
That became a memorable season for Son, finishing with 17 goals in 42 matches.
Since Joining Tottenham in August of 2015, Son has shown why he is one of the best Asian footballers in today’s game.
Alongside his physicality and stamina, he has become a very intelligent footballer at Tottenham.
As of January 2022, a 29-year-old superstar has scored 78 goals in just the premier league. Making the reward of a new contract extension by Tottenham that makes him the highest-paid Korean footballer fully deserved.
He continues to wow spectators with his superior attacking abilities.
But more importantly, in his eyes, he helps his team to achieve collective goals every season, whether that be champions league places or cup finals.
Son’s exceptional talent will continue to inspire young Koreans to achieve great things in the world of football.
No 2 – Takumi Minamino (南野 拓実)
- Nationality – Japanese
- Current Club – Liverpool FC
- Position – Winger
Starting his professional career for J League side Cerezo Osaka in August 2012, Takumi Minamino had high ambitions to not only perform in Europes best leagues but to make a name for himself.
After breaking into Osaka’s first team in 2013, he began scoring more.
Helping his team both domestically and in Asia’s champions league.
Minamino’s 2014 season impressed many European clubs who noticed his growing potential.
Similar to Son, his first big break in Europe was in Germany, where he signed for Red Bull Salzburg in January 2015.
Over the next few years, Minamino developed his game and attacking prowess.
One notable performance was a 2018/19 Europa League match against Rosenburg in which he scored a first-half Hat Trick and subsequently earned a spot in the competition’s Team of the Week.
Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp had seen Minamino play regularly when managing in Germany and was very keen to activate his release clause in December 2019.
Having had support from Salzburg’s supporting director, Minamino was ready for a new challenge in the best league in the world.
So Minamino made a move to Merseyside, where he received a contract that, similar to Son, also made him his countries highest-earning footballer.
After returning to Liverpool after a loan stint with Southampton, Minamino’s Liverpool career is developing into an exciting one with regular goals now being scored.
As he reaches his ‘prime’ years, Japan’s attacking maestro is sure to get even better and therefore allow for more opportunities for upcoming Japanese players.
No. 3 – Takehiro Tomiyasu (冨安 健洋)
- Nationality – Japanese
- Current Club – Arsenal FC
- Position – Right Back
Like Minamino, Takehiro Tomiyasu started out as a talented J league player who shone brightly for his local team.
After an unsuccessful academy trial at Barcelona, Tomiyasu joined Avispa Fukuoka, where he signed a professional first-team contract.
His strong defensive performances helped his team qualify for the promotional playoffs in 2017.
Although ultimately unsuccessful in the final, Tomiyasu’s leadership and skill set was appreciated by not only his teammates but Belgian side Sint-Truiden. He joined the club in January 2018 and started his upward road to Premier League football.
Bologna was his second home in Europe when he completed a 9 million euro deal with the club in June 2019.
Man of the match performances followed, and he became an integral part of the Italian side.
Unfortunately, due to several injuries, his career in Italy was at times ‘rocky’, but this pushed him to retain his important role within the team.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, many other European clubs were in contention to sign the Japanese defender, including both Tottenham and Arsenal.
Arsenals manager Mikel Arteta made the move in late August and purchased Tomiyasu for upwards of £17 million.
Arteta has made it known how much he appreciates Tomiyasu, recently saying “He’s such a great character. He’s a top professional who has given us a lot of composure in the backline”.
His commanding presence and excellent physical abilities shed light on a new type of Japanese footballer, one that is appreciated by both the Japanese and European footballing communities.
No. 4 – Hwang Hee Chan (황희찬)
- Nationality – Korean
- Current Club – Red Bull Leipzig
- Position – Centre Forward
Nicknamed the ‘Bull’ in South Korea (황소), Hwang Hee-Chan is known for his aggressive playing style.
This, alongside other favorable traits, made the young Korean Forward outshine his peers and enabled him to secure a contract with Red Bull Salzburg in December 2014.
Through eventually earning a spot in the first team, Hwang was able to contribute to the club’s best European campaign during the 2017-18 season.
He managed to bag an important goal against Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
A goal that brought interest and awareness of his name.
Although he had a challenging time at loan club Hamburg during the 2018-19 season.
Hwang managed to secure his place back into Salzburg’s side, where he contributed with impressive numbers.
Incidentally playing alongside Takumi Minamino during this season.
In July 2020, Hwang signed for partner club Red Bull Leipzig on a five-year deal.
He helped the team reach the 2021 DFB-Pokal final but failed to score in his first Bundesliga season.
His ruthless mentality and past successes were still enough to persuade Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign him on a season-long loan in August 2021.
Scoring on his debut, Hwang is set to have an exciting season at Molineux as well as in his International career.
He is another very well-respected Korean footballer who continues to strive for excellence in Europe’s top league.
No. 5 – Takefusa Kubo (久保 建英)
- Nationality – Japanese
- Current Club – RCD Mallorca
- Position – Winger
Another incredibly exciting young player is Takefusa Kobu.
The Japanese International is on a slow but ever-forward route to the top of world football.
Being only 20 years of age, Kobu has achieved so much already, personally.
Growing up in Kawasaki, Kobu had limited options for elite-level football.
However, after making a name for himself in the academies of both Tokyo Verdy and Kawasaki Frontale, Kobu was invited to join FC Barcelonas youth set up.
During his first full season for the club, he finished top goalscorer with an amazing 74 goals in 30 games.
This not only boosted his confidence to play such a high level of football but also gave other Spanish clubs more reasons to consider a move for him.
After returning to Japan and FC Tokyo, Kobu started his professional journey.
In April 2017, he became the youngest player to score in the J League at just 15 years.
Real Madrid came knocking in the summer of 2019, and of course, Kubo accepted the chance to play in Spain again.
A five-year deal with the Spanish giants was signed, and Kubo was ready to take his chance.
Being so young had its downsides. And since joining Madrid, Kubo has been loaned out on four separate occasions to other Spanish rivals.
Currently playing for Mallorca. However, this has not halted his progression as an incredible footballer, having adopted the nickname “The Japanese Messi.”
His potential is extraordinary, and he continues to show why he will be a star in years to come.
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