Kaito Taniguchi (谷口 海斗, Taniguchi Kaito, born 7 September 1995) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Albirex Niigata.

Kaito Taniguchi
谷口 海斗
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-09-07) 7 September 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Kihoku, Mie, Japan
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Albirex Niigata
Number 7
Youth career
Miyama FC
0000–2010 Kishu Esforco
2011–2013 Yokkaichi Chuo Kogyo High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Gifu Keizai University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Iwate Grulla Morioka 55 (24)
2020–2021 Roasso Kumamoto 34 (18)
2021– Albirex Niigata 130 (35)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:45, 1 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Taniguchi attended Gifu Keizai University, where he served as a captain and was transformed from a centre-back to a forward.[1] He then joined Grulla Morioka for 2018 season.[2] Taniguchi was sidelined with injury during the early season.[3] He made his league debut against Fujieda MYFC on 20 May 2018.[4] Taniguchi scored his first league goal against Giravanz Kitakyushu on 10 June 2018.[5]

On 23 December 2019, Taniguchi was announced at Roasso Kumamoto.[6] He scored on his league debut on 27 June 2020 against Kagoshima United, scoring in the 15th and 64th minute.[7] During his time at the club, he scored 18 goals in 34 games, becoming the J3 top scorer in the 2020 season.[8]

On 30 December 2020, Taniguchi was announced at Albirex Niigata.[9] He made his league debut against Giravanz Kitakyushu on 27 February 2021.[10] Taniguchi scored his first league goal against Ehime on 24 April 2021, scoring in the 12th minute.[11] On 14 December 2021, it was announced that the club had extended his contract for the 2022 season.[12] On 10 December 2022, Taniguchi's contract was extended for the 2023 season.[13] On 31 December 2023, his contract was extended for the 2024 season.[14]

On 16 April 2024, Taniguchi won the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Monthly Best Goal award for February and March.[15]

Club statistics

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As of match played 19 July 2023[16][17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Iwate Grulla Morioka 2018 J3 League 23 15 1 0 24 15
2019 J3 League 32 9 2 1 34 10
Total 55 24 3 1 46 10
Roasso Kumamoto 2020 J3 League 34 18 0 0 34 18
Albirex Niigata 2021 J2 League 42 13 1 0 43 13
2022 J2 League 36 9 1 0 37 9
2023 J1 League 16 3 1 0 4 1 21 4
Total 94 25 3 0 4 1 101 26
Career total 183 67 6 1 4 1 193 69

References

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  1. ^ "topics/news/1040". gifu-keizai.ac.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-08-22. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  2. ^ "【チーム】谷口海斗選手 新加入のお知らせ | グルージャ盛岡 オフィシャルサイト". grulla-morioka.jp. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  3. ^ "ルーキー谷口躍動 グルージャ盛岡、リーグ5位の11得点" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2019-03-28.
  4. ^ "Grulla Morioka vs Fujieda MYFC - 20 May 2018". int.soccerway.com.
  5. ^ "Grulla Morioka vs Giravanz Kitakyushu - 10 June 2018". int.soccerway.com.
  6. ^ "谷口海斗選手、いわてグルージャ盛岡より完全移籍加入のお知らせ". roasso-k.com (in Japanese).
  7. ^ "Roasso Kumamoto vs Kagoshima United - 27 June 2020". int.soccerway.com.
  8. ^ "Kaito Taniguchi J3 Top Scorer J.LEAGUE Awards 2020". www.youtube.com (in Japanese).
  9. ^ "ロアッソ熊本から 谷口 海斗 選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  10. ^ "Giravanz Kitakyushu vs Albirex Niigata - 27 February 2021". int.soccerway.com.
  11. ^ "Ehime vs Albirex Niigata - 24 April 2021". int.soccerway.com.
  12. ^ "新潟、FW谷口海斗との契約更新を発表! 昨季J3得点王、今季J2でチームトップ13得点". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  13. ^ "谷口 海斗 選手 契約更新のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  14. ^ "谷口 海斗 選手 契約更新のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  15. ^ "谷口 海斗 選手 2・3月度「2024明治安田J1リーグ月間ベストゴール」初受賞のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  16. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 271 out of 289)
  17. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2021 Kaito Taniguchi Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
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