Yū Hirakawa

Yū Hirakawa
平河 悠
Personal information
Full name Yū Hirakawa
Date of birth (2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth Kashima, Saga, Japan
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Bristol City
(on loan from Machida Zelvia)
Number 7
Youth career
Meirin JSC
–2015 FC Revona
2016–2018 Saga Higashi High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Yamanashi Gakuin University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Machida Zelvia 70 (10)
2024– → Bristol City (loan) 21 (2)
International career‡
2023 Japan U22 2 (0)
2023– Japan U23 9 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2024 Qatar Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:54, 30 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 July 2024 (UTC)


Yū Hirakawa (平河 悠, Hirakawa Yū, born 3 January 2001) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Bristol City on loan from J1 League side Machida Zelvia.

Early life

Hirakawa was born in Kashima. He played youth football for Saga Higashi High School and Yamanashi Gakuin University.[1]

Career

In September 2021, it was announced that Hirakawa would join J2 League club Machida Zelvia as a designated special player.[2] He made his debut for Machida on the 5 December 2021 against Albirex Niigata.[3] He scored his first goal for the club on the 13 March 2022, scoring in the 20th minute against Fagiano Okayama.[4] He was part of the Machida team that won the 2023 J2 League.

In April 2024, Hirakawa won his first Monthly MVP award for his performances at the start of the 2024 J1 League season.[5]

On 9 July 2024, Hirakawa joined EFL Championship club Bristol City on a season-long loan.[6][7]

Career statistics

Club

As of 29 December 2024[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Machida Zelvia 2021 J2 League 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2022 J2 League 16 2 0 0 — — 16 2
2023 J2 League 35 6 2 2 — — 37 8
2024 J1 League 18 2 0 0 1 0 — 19 2
Total 70 10 2 2 1 0 — 73 12
Bristol City (loan) 2024–25[9] EFL Championship 21 2 0 0 0 0 — 21 2
Career total 91 12 2 2 1 0 0 0 94 14
  1. ^ Includes Emperor's Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes J.League Cup, EFL Cup

Honours

Machida Zelvia

Japan U23

Individual

References

  1. ^ "[MOM735]山梨学院大FW平河悠(3年)_―サッカーが好きすぎて、凄い奴―" [Yamanashi Gakuin University forward Yū Hirakawa (3rd year) -An amazing guy who loves soccer so much-]. ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 24 August 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  2. ^ "「今シーズンからFC町田ゼルビアの一員」"2年後"加入内定の山梨学院大MF平河悠が特別指定選手に" [Yamanashi Gakuin University midfielder Yū Hirakawa, who is scheduled to join FC Machida Zelvia from this season, becomes a specially designated player.]. ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Albirex Niigata vs Machida Zelvia - 5 December 2021". int.soccerway.com.
  4. ^ "Machida Zelvia vs Fagiano Okayama - 13 March 2022". int.soccerway.com.
  5. ^ "2・3月度「明治安田Ｊリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」も決定！：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）" [Announcing the “Meiji Yasuda J League KONAMI Monthly MVP” for February and March! “Best Goal of the Month”, “Outstanding Coach of the Month” and “Young Player of the Month” have also been decided!]. Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Bristol City sign Yū Hirakawa from Machida Zelvia". BBC Sport. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ Morgan, Ryan (9 July 2024). "City sign Hirakawa". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2024 Yū Hirakawa Result by Season". soccer-db.net. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Games played by Yū Hirakawa in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2024.


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