Tsuyoshi Watanabe, born on 5th February 1997, is a commanding central defender plying his trade for Feyenoord. Born in Japan, the defender stands at 6ft (1.84m) tall and weighs 11st 13lbs (76kg). In his home nation of Japan, Watanabe proudly represented the national team, carrying his talents to an international level. Whilst trotting out for Feyenoord, he is typically seen sporting the number 4 jersey.
Watanabe's talent on the football field is not without monetary value. As specified by Transfermarkt, his current market value is estimated to be around a respectable £7.5m. However, there is always the unspoken understanding that in football, the value of a player is much more than just figures.
Watanabe embarked on his early professional journey with FC Tokyo in the J1 League, Japan's top-flight league, back in July 2018. In a show of consistency during his debut season in 2019, he made 20 appearances for the first team and managed to chip in with two goals. Watanabe proved himself to be reliable, making 28 appearances and scoring twice again in the following season. In his concluding season with FC Tokyo in 2021, he made 27 appearances and scored once.
With January 2022 ushering in a new year, it also held new beginnings for Watanabe. The defender made the decision to swap the familiar surroundings of FC Tokyo for Kortrijk in Belgium's Challenger Pro League for an undisclosed fee. Over the course of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Watanabe demonstrated his knack for standing firm in defense, making a sum of 41 appearances and contributing one goal in the second season with Kortrijk.
July 2023 beckoned the next chapter in Watanabe's career, with a transfer to Belgian Pro League side Gent. The move was sealed with a deal circling around the region of £3m, completing his upward trajectory in Belgian soccer. Watanabe fitted in seamlessly over at Gent, making a collective 53 appearances and adding four goals to his tally over the course of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
The summer of 2025 had Watanabe making another ambitious move - this time to Feyenoord in the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football. The hefty transfer fee of around £7m reflected Watanabe's ever-increasing stature in the world of football. Up to the moment in the ongoing 2025-26 season, Watanabe has already made a solid 12 appearances and recorded a goal for Feyenoord.
Outside of his club career, Watanabe has marked his presence in the World Cup Qualifiers Asia 2024 - 2026, earning one start and making one appearance as a substitute. His participation extends to the Champions League Qualifiers of 2025 - 2026, where he netted two goals in two starts for Feyenoord. The Europa League has also witnessed Watanabe's exploits in the 2025 - 2026 season, with three starts and two appearances as a substitute under his belt.
