Rion Ichihara
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 July 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AZ Alkmaar | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | RB Omiya Ardija | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2025 | RB Omiya Ardija | 77 | (5) |
| 2026– | AZ Alkmaar | 2 | (0) |
| 2026– | Jong AZ | 6 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | Japan U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Japan U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Japan U20 | 16 | (3) |
| 2025 | Japan U22 | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | Japan U23 | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 April 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 January 2026 | |||
Rion Ichihara (市原 吏音, Ichihara Rion; born 7 July 2005) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar.
Early life
Ichihara was born on 7 July 2005. Born in Saitama, Japan, he is a native of the city.[1]
Club career
As a youth player, Ichihara joined the youth academy of Japanese side RB Omiya Ardija and was promoted to the club's senior team in 2023, where he made seventy-eight league appearances and scored five goals and helped them achieve promotion from the third tier to the second tier.[1] Following his stint there, he signed for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2026.[2]
International career
Ichihara is a Japan youth international. During January 2026, he played for the Japan national under-23 football team at the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[1]
Style of play
Ichihara plays as a defender. Japanese magazine Soccer Hihyo wrote in 2026 that he "is a center back who combines height of 187cm with strength and skill with his feet, and leads the defensive line with exceptional leadership".[3]
Career statistics
- As of match played 23 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| RB Omiya Ardija | 2023 | J2 League | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | J3 League | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 4 | |||
| 2025 | J2 League | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Total | 77 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 80 | 5 | |||
| AZ | 2025–26 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| Jong AZ | 2025–26 | Eerste Divisie | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 85 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 89 | 5 | ||
- ^ Appearance in promotion play-offs
- ^ Appearanbce in UEFA Conference League
Honours
RB Omiya Ardija
AZ
Individual
References
- ^ a b c "一部周囲の見方に「それは全く違う」..."ロス世代"主将の大宮DF市原吏音がAZに完全移籍! 長文で想いを綴る" [Responding to some of the surrounding opinions with "That's completely wrong," Omiya defender Rion Ichihara, captain of the "Lost Generation," makes a permanent transfer to AZ! He expresses his thoughts in a lengthy message] (in Japanese). Gekisaka. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Rion Ichihara at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "｢こ、このシルエットは...！｣オランダ1部AZがU-23日本代表20歳主将の獲得を"匂わせ"演出！｢このフォルムは彼しかいない｣｢しかもめっちゃ期待されてる」" ["Th-this silhouette...! " Dutch Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar hints at the acquisition of the 20-year-old captain of the Japan U-23 national team with a suggestive presentation! "This form can only be him," "And he's clearly highly anticipated"] (in Japanese). Soccer Hihyo. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Standings". jleague.co. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Parrott, Koopmeiners shine as AZ Alkmaar wins KNVB Cup after 13 years". Sport Star. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ "２０２５Ｊ２リーグアウォーズ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Ｊ３受賞選手：明治安田Ｊ３リーグアウォーズ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 February 2026.
External links
- Rion Ichihara at WorldFootball.net
- Rion Ichihara on Instagram