Yuki Kobayashi, hailing from the Land of the Rising Sun and born on the 18th day of July 2000, is a formidable defender specialising in the central position. Currently showcasing his skills for Portimonense, he boasts a height of 6ft (1.85m) and a weight of approximately 11st 11lb (75kg).
As per the valuations available on the dedicated football resources website, Transfermarkt, the chap's current market value stands at around €650k, which is close to £541k when converted to British pounds – a respectable amount considering the volatile nature of football economics. As of now, his contract with Portimonense will be in effect until 30 June 2027, providing a solid stability of roughly two years plus a month for his current employers.
Kobayashi took to the field for the first time in Japanese J1 League in January 2018, donning the jersey of Vissel Kobe. He managed to get game time in two league matches in his debut season. Over the next few years, his appearances consistently increased, culminating in 32 appearances in the 2022 season.
A string of loan spells followed. In July 2019, he moved temporarily to Machida Zelvia, another J1 League outfit, for a season. Subsequently, in January 2020, Kobayashi saw himself playing for Yokohama FC, also on loan, where he made headlines with 28 league appearances and even managed to score two goals.
Upon the expiry of his loan, Kobayashi made a triumphant return to Vissel Kobe in January 2021. He shrugged off any "loan-returnee" baggage quickly and cemented his place in the squad, with solid performances, earning between 22 and 32 match appearances in each season.
In a major shift of gear, Kobayashi embarked on an adventure overseas, joining Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in January 2023. The fee was kept undisclosed. His time at Celtic, unfortunately, did not yield as many appearances as his previous stints. He managed to play in only five first-team league matches during the 2022-2023 season.
In the summer of 2024, Kobayashi departed Celtic and found himself in Portugal with Portimonense, trading the Scottish Premiership for Liga Portugal 2. Currently in the 2024-25 season, Kobayashi is exhibiting his skills more frequently, having already made 25 first-team appearances in league matches. The lad, it seems, has finally found his rhythm in the Portuguese sun.
