2025 J1 League

J1 League
Season2025
Dates14 February – 6 December
← 2024

The 2025 J1 League, also known as the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (Japanese: 2025 明治安田J1リーグ, Hepburn: 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, will be the 33rd season of J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This is the 11th season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 1.

Vissel Kobe are the defending champions, having won their second league title in a row on the last matchday of the 2024 season.[1]

Overview

This is the last J.League season played in a whole calendar year from late winter to early winter, with the following season onwards played from summer to spring.[2]

The tournament format and match format were announced on 25 November 2024, with the season started on 14 February 2025 and concluded on 6 December 2025.[3]

This season will be the last with annual format, for 2026 the league will adopt the European Calendar for September to May.[4]

Changes from the previous season

There were three teams relegated to the 2025 J2 League. Júbilo Iwata, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and Sagan Tosu, were relegated as they finished 18th, 19th, and 20th respectively in the previous season, ending one, eight, and 13-year stays in the top flight.

Three teams were promoted from the 2024 J2 League: Shimizu S-Pulse, who won the title and returned to J1 after a two-year absence, Yokohama FC, who finished second, returning to the J1 after just a season playing in the J2 League, and Fagiano Okayama, who finished fifth and won the play-offs; they will play in the top division for the first time in their history.

Clubs

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Locations of the 2025 J1 League teams
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2025 J1 League teams in Keihanshin
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2025 J1 League teams in Greater Tokyo Area
Club Location Stadium Capacity
Nagoya Grampus Aichi Prefecture Toyota Stadium 42,753
Kashiwa Reysol Chiba Prefecture Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium 15,109
Avispa Fukuoka Fukuoka Prefecture Best Denki Stadium 21,562
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Hiroshima Prefecture Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima 28,347
Vissel Kobe Hyōgo Prefecture Noevir Stadium Kobe 29,643
Kashima Antlers Ibaraki Prefecture Kashima Soccer Stadium 39,095
Kawasaki Frontale Kanagawa Prefecture Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu 26,827
Yokohama F. Marinos Nissan Stadium 71,624
Yokohama FC NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium 15,442
Shonan Bellmare Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka 15,380
Kyoto Sanga Kyoto Prefecture Sanga Stadium by Kyocera 21,623
Albirex Niigata Niigata Prefecture Denka Big Swan Stadium 41,684
Fagiano Okayama Okayama Prefecture City Light Stadium 15,479
Gamba Osaka Osaka Prefecture Panasonic Stadium Suita 39,694
Cerezo Osaka Yodoko Sakura Stadium 24,481
Urawa Red Diamonds Saitama Prefecture Saitama Stadium 2002 62,040
Shimizu S-Pulse Shizuoka Prefecture IAI Stadium Nihondaira 19,594
FC Tokyo Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium 47,851
Tokyo Verdy
Machida Zelvia Machida GION Stadium 15,489

Personnel and kits

Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor
Albirex Niigata Japan Daisuke Kimori Japan Yuto Horigome Germany Adidas Kameda Seika
Avispa Fukuoka South Korea Kim Myung-hwi Japan Tatsuki Nara Japan Yonex Shin Nihon Seiyaku
Cerezo Osaka Australia Arthur Papas TBA Japan Mizuno Yanmar
Fagiano Okayama Japan Takashi Kiyama Japan Ryo Takeuchi Brazil Penalty GROP
FC Tokyo Japan Rikizo Matsuhashi Japan Masato Morishige United States New Balance Tokyo Gas
Gamba Osaka Spain Dani Poyatos Japan Takashi Usami Denmark Hummel Panasonic
Kashima Antlers Japan Toru Oniki Japan Gaku Shibasaki United States Nike LIXIL
Kashiwa Reysol Spain Ricardo Rodríguez Japan Taiyo Koga Japan Yonex Hitachi
Kawasaki Frontale Japan Shigetoshi Hasebe Japan Yasuto Wakizaka Germany Puma Fujitsu
Kyoto Sanga South Korea Cho Kwi-jae Japan Temma Matsuda Germany Puma Kyocera
Machida Zelvia Japan Go Kuroda Japan Gen Shoji Germany Adidas CyberAgent
Nagoya Grampus Japan Kenta Hasegawa Japan Sho Inagaki Japan Mizuno Toyota
GR Yaris
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Germany Michael Skibbe Japan Sho Sasaki United States Nike EDION
Shimizu S-Pulse Japan Tadahiro Akiba Japan Yoshinori Suzuki Germany Puma Suzuyo
Shonan Bellmare Japan Satoshi Yamaguchi South Korea Kim Min-tae Brazil Penalty Meldia
Tokyo Verdy Japan Hiroshi Jofuku Japan Koki Morita Brazil Athleta Nicigas
Urawa Red Diamonds Poland Maciej Skorża Japan Shusaku Nishikawa United States Nike Polus
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Vissel Kobe Japan Takayuki Yoshida TBA Japan Asics Rakuten Mobile
Yokohama FC Japan Shuhei Yomoda TBA Germany Puma Onodera Group
Yokohama F. Marinos England Steve Holland Japan Takuya Kida Germany Adidas Nissan

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Kashiwa Reysol Japan Masami Ihara[5][6] End of contract 9 December 2024 Pre-season Spain Ricardo Rodríguez[7] 11 December 2024
FC Tokyo Australia Peter Cklamovski[8] Japan Rikizo Matsuhashi[9] 21 December 2024
Cerezo Osaka Japan Akio Kogiku[10] Australia Arthur Papas[11] 17 December 2024
Avispa Fukuoka Japan Shigetoshi Hasebe[12] South Korea Kim Myung-hwi[13] 13 December 2024
Kawasaki Frontale Japan Toru Oniki[14] Japan Shigetoshi Hasebe[15] 12 December 2024
Kashima Antlers Japan Masaki Chugo End of interim spell Japan Toru Oniki[16] 12 December 2024
Yokohama F. Marinos Malta John Hutchinson England Steve Holland[17] 17 December 2024
Albirex Niigata Japan Rikizo Matsuhashi[18] Resigned 13 December 2024 Japan Daisuke Kimori[19] 19 December 2024

Foreign players

From the 2021 season, there are no limitations on signing foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five of them for a single matchday squad.[20] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Morocco, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia) were exempted from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, holds the nationality of a J.League partner nation, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from an approved type of school in the country.[21]
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Player 9 Former player (s)
Albirex Niigata Brazil Danilo Gomes New Zealand Michael Fitzgerald
Avispa Fukuoka Brazil Wellington Switzerland Nassim Ben Khalifa
Cerezo Osaka Brazil Léo Ceará Brazil Lucas Fernandes Brazil Vitor Bueno South Korea Kim Jin-hyeon South Korea Yang Han-been
Fagiano Okayama Brazil Gleyson Brazil Lucão Germany Svend Brodersen
FC Tokyo Brazil Everton Galdino Brazil Henrique Trevisan Brazil Jája Silva South Korea Baek In-hwan
Gamba Osaka Brazil Dawhan Brazil Juan Alano Brazil Welton Felipe China Zhang Aolin Israel Neta Lavi Tunisia Issam Jebali
Kashima Antlers Brazil Talles Serbia Aleksandar Čavrić Serbia Radomir Milosavljević South Korea Park Eui-jeong
Kashiwa Reysol Brazil Diego
Kawasaki Frontale Brazil Erison Brazil Jesiel Brazil Marcinho Brazil Patrick Verhon Brazil Zé Ricardo South Korea Jung Sung-ryong South Korea Lee Geun-hyeong
Kyoto Sanga Brazil Marco Túlio Brazil Murilo Costa Brazil Rafael Elias Italy Akira Fantini South Korea Gu Sung-yun South Korea Yoon Sung-jun
Machida Zelvia Australia Mitch Duke Brazil Erik Chile Byron Vásquez Kosovo Ibrahim Drešević Myanmar Kaung Zan Mara South Korea Cha Je-hoon South Korea Jang Min-gyu South Korea Na Sang-ho United States Anton Burns
Nagoya Grampus Denmark Kasper Junker Ecuador José Carabalí Togo Yves Avelete
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Brazil Marcos Júnior Germany Tolgay Arslan Portugal Gonçalo Paciência
Shimizu S-Pulse Brazil Capixaba Brazil Carlinhos Júnior Brazil Douglas Tanque Bulgaria Ahmed Ahmedov Ghana Abdul-Aziz Yakubu South Korea Oh Se-hun United States Jelani Reshaun Sumiyoshi
Shonan Bellmare Brazil Luiz Phellype Brazil Lukian South Korea Kim Min-tae
Tokyo Verdy Brazil Matheus Vidotto
Urawa Red Diamonds Brazil Matheus Sávio Brazil Thiago Santana Norway Marius Høibråten Sweden Samuel Gustafson
Vissel Kobe Brazil Jean Patric Brazil Matheus Thuler Nigeria Richard Monday Ubong
Yokohama FC Brazil Caprini Brazil João Paulo Brazil Léo Bahia Brazil Michel Brazil Phelipe Brazil Yuri Lara Canada Shawn van Eerden
Yokohama F. Marinos Brazil Anderson Lopes Brazil Élber Brazil Yan Matheus South Korea Park Il-gyu Togo Kodjo Aziangbe

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Albirex Niigata 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite league stage
2 Avispa Fukuoka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Cerezo Osaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Fagiano Okayama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Gamba Osaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Kashima Antlers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Kashiwa Reysol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Kawasaki Frontale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Machida Zelvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Nagoya Grampus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Kyoto Sanga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Shonan Bellmare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Shimizu S-Pulse 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 FC Tokyo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Tokyo Verdy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Urawa Red Diamonds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 Vissel Kobe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the J2 League
19 Yokohama FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 Yokohama F. Marinos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 14 February 2025. Source: J1 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Fewer disciplinary points.

Results


See also

References

  1. ^ "J.League Matchweek 38 Recap: Vissel are champions again". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ ".League season timing to transition from 2026/27 season". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  3. ^ "2025明治安田J1リーグ 大会方式および試合方式について" [2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Tournament Format and Match Format]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League.
  4. ^ "2026年前半 シーズン移行期の特別大会について" [Announcement of the 2026 transition tournament.]. www.jleague.co (in Japanese). 17 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  5. ^ "サッカーJ1 柏レイソル 井原正巳監督 今季かぎりで退任を発表" [Kashiwa Reysol J1 football team manager Masami Ihara announces his retirement at the end of this season] (in Japanese). NHK. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  6. ^ "井原 正巳監督 退任のお知らせ" [Announcement of Director Masami Ihara's Resignation] (in Japanese). Kashiwa Reysol. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. ^ "リカルド ロドリゲス監督 就任内定のお知らせ" [Ricardo Rodriguez to assume new managerial role] (in Japanese). Kashiwa Reysol. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  8. ^ "ピーター クラモフスキー監督今シーズン限りでの退任のお知らせ" [Manager Peter Cklamovski to retire at the end of this season]. FCTokyo.co.jp (in Japanese). FC Tokyo. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. ^ "松橋力蔵氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of new manager, Rikizo Matsuhashi]. FCTokyo.co.jp (in Japanese). FC Tokyo. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  10. ^ "小菊 昭雄監督 今シーズンでの契約満了について" [Manager Akio Kogiku: Regarding the expiration of his contract at the end of this season]. Cerezo.com.jp (in Japanese). Cerezo Osaka. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  11. ^ "アーサー パパス氏 監督就任について" [Arthur Papas' appointment as manager]. Cerezo.com.jp (in Japanese). Cerezo Osaka. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  12. ^ "長谷部 茂利 監督 退任のお知らせ" [Announcement of the resignation of Manager Shigetoshi Hasebe]. Avispa.co.jp (in Japanese). Avispa Fukuoka. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  13. ^ "金 明輝 氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of Mr. Kim Myung-hwi's appointment as manager]. Avispa.co.jp (in Japanese). Avispa Fukuoka. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  14. ^ "鬼木達監督 契約満了のお知らせ" [Announcement of contract expiration for manager Toru Oniki]. Frontale.co.jp (in Japanese). Kawasaki Frontale. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  15. ^ "長谷部茂利氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of Shigetoshi Hasebe's appointment as manager]. Frontale.co.jp (in Japanese). Kawasaki Frontale. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  16. ^ "鬼木 達氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of the appointment of Toru Oniki as manager]. Kashima Antlers. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Yokohama F. Marinos name Steve Holland as its new manager". Yokohama F. Marinos. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  18. ^ "松橋 力蔵 監督 退任のお知らせ" [Announcement of Director Rikizo Matsuhashi's Resignation] (in Japanese). Albirex Niigata. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  19. ^ "トップチーム 樹森 大介 監督 就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of the appointment of Daisuke Kimori as the new head coach of the top team] (in Japanese). Albirex Niigata. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  20. ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について" [About the introduction of the "homegrown system" and the change of the "foreign player quota"]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018.
  21. ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" [Rules for contracting, registering and transferring professional soccer players] (PDF). JFA.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.