is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and the Japan national team.
Club career Sanfrecce Hiroshima Kawabe joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2008, alongside other products of the club's academy. After his debut in 2012, he was offered a full pro contract by Sanfrecce. Despite this achievement, he found too few minutes on the pitch and decided to go to Júbilo Iwata on loan. In January 2018, he came back to Sanfrecce after a three-years loan to Jubilo.
Grasshopper Club Zürich and Wolverhampton Wanderers
On 8 July 2021, he signed a 3-year contract with Grasshoppers in the Swiss Super League. Due to delays with his work permit, he only made his debut on 7 August 2021 against Lausanne-Sport, being named in the starting lineup and playing 60 minutes. He scored his first goal in a 3-1 away victory over FC Sion on 31 October 2021, scoring the opener in the 32nd minute
On 5 January 2022, Kawabe joined Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-and-a-half-year deal, with the club intending on loaning him back to Grasshoppers in the near future. He returned to Grasshoppers on 19 January 2022 and will remain until the end of the 2022–2023 season. He finished the season at Grasshoppers with 34 appearances, playing every game since gaining eligibility. In his first season in Europe, he scored seven goals and supplied three assists. In the first game of the 2022–23 season, he scored both goals in a 2-1 home win against FC Lugano. As a result, he was voted "SFL Player of the Round" by the viewers from among five nominees.
On 25 May 2023, Grasshoppers announced that Kawabe would leave the club at the end of the season.
Standard Liège
On 7 July 2023, he permanently joined Standard Liège for a reported fee of £1.3 million.
Return to Sanfrecce Hiroshima On 2 August 2024, Kawabe returned to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
International career He made his debut for Japan national football team on 25 March 2021 in a friendly against South Korea. On 7 June 2021, he shot his first international goal, the final goal in a 4-1 victory over Tajikistan in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Career statistics Club 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, (p. 125 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 245 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, (p. 143 out of 289)
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Japan League Emperor's Cup League Cup AFC Total2013Sanfrecce HiroshimaJ1 League3000002050201410300020602015Júbilo Iwata (loan)J2 League33310––3432016J1 League2620050–31220173243031–3852018Sanfrecce Hiroshima3303050–41020193431020404132020343–10–35320211930020–213 Japan total2151811018180252192021–22Grasshopper Club ZürichSuper League16420--1842022-23Wolverhampton WanderersPremier League00000000002021–22Grasshopper Club Zürich (loan)Super League18300 - -1832022–2333920--359 Switzerland total671640000071162023–24Standard LiègeBelgian Pro League27710 - -287Belgium total277100000287 Career total309411601818035142
International goals No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 7 June 2021 Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan 4–1 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours Sanfrecce Hiroshima J.League Cup: 2025 Japanese Super Cup: 2025
Japan EAFF Championship: 2025
References
External links Profile at Sanfrecce Hiroshima Profile at Júbilo Iwata