Keito Nakamura – LASK’s intelligent playmaker

Keito Nakamura began his career at the Kashiwa Reysol footballing school as football was a hobby at that stage of his career but by the time he turned 9, he decided that he would become a professional footballer. He was a highly regarded prospect at high-school level before signing a professional contract with Gamba Osaka as he would experience difficulties in adapting to professional football from high-school football. He would work hard, utilizing extra training sessions to ease the adaptation to the J League as Gamba Osaka are one of the best clubs at developing young players and giving them opportunities while they will also cleverly loan out players to European clubs for them to gain experience. Nakamura’s first European loan would be to FC Twente where he scored goals against PSV and Ajax as he would also be loaned out to Sint-Truiden in Belgium and the LASK second team in the Austrian Second Division.

In 2021, he signed a permanent deal with LASK as he is one of the best attackers in the Austrian Bundesliga this season. His ability to receive possession, connect play in tight spaces and drive the ball forward is exceptional as his is penchant for angling perfectly weighted through balls for runners from a variety of areas across the pitch. However, there is a particular intelligence and savviness about his movement, be it making well-timed vertical runs into the nine-space to receive through balls and have opportunities on goal, releasing the ball to the wide areas before making a movement into the half-space to receive cut-backs and have high quality opportunities on goal or his movement in between the lines to receive possession. Nakamura is a well-rounded playmaker who has a phenomenal understanding or angling through balls to runners while also being able to time his runs with precision to receive through balls to have opportunities on goal.

In an intense match against SK Sturm, he tucked into the central spaces, receiving possession after a turnover to lay-off a pass to a teammate who played a deep pass in between the lines for Nakamura to move into space to receive a lay-off, driving the ball deep into the opposition half to spread the ball into the wide areas for a crossing opportunity. In another situation, the 22-year-old sensed that a midfielder was moving into the half-space as instead of dropping deep, Nakamura made a run into the channels before moving closer to the touchline to receive possession, threading a pass for a teammate in the central spaces before making a vertical run to the back-post as the ball was switched to the opposite flank. Nakamura’s intelligence for tight spaces allows him to facilitate fast-paced transitions and create opportunities in the final third as he received possession near the touchline with an opposition player pushing up behind him as he turned his body towards the touchline, shielding the ball from an opposition player, allowing the ball to roll to his back-foot to evade his first marker, driving the ball forward as he was fouled, skipping past a second defender.

Nakamura strung together a counter-attack with his intelligent movement and passing interchanges in tight spaces as he used his body to shield possession in a tight space before threading a pass to the ten space, making a vertical run to the back-post as the ball was switched to the opposite flank as he received a curled cross in the box but could not divert the delivery at goal. The Japanese playmaker dropped back to regain possession, turning and threading a brilliantly weighted through ball to a teammate who had his shot blocked. He had another through ball opportunity, receiving possession in the ten space during a counter-attack, taking a touch and lofting a pass over the opposition defence as the pass was too heavy for his striker. Nakamura received a long pass from a goal-kick, using his body to spin around his defender to take a wonderful first touch to control the ball, twisting and turning away from his marker to hold possession and play a back-pass for a cross into the box as he made a run to the back-post.

Nakamura’s ability to use his body to shield the ball to buy himself time to make better decisions in possession or draw fouls in important areas is incredible while it underpins his value in tight spaces as he can release the ball quickly and move into space to receive possession again. He tucked into the central positions to receive the ball, swivelling to thread the ball to a teammate for an overlapping run which led to a cross into the box. In a counter-pressing situation, he regained possession, working a deep vertical pass to the ten space before making a move into the half-space to receive possession once more. The ball was played to the wide areas as Nakamura was facing the wide areas to receive possession as he scanned to realize that he was in between three players. A split second before he received possession, he turned and allowed the ball to roll to his back-foot which set him up to skip past a defender, cutting inside to curl a strike home. He instigated a counter-attacking move when he received possession on the edge of his own box to poke a through ball to a runner in order to push his side forward.

At home to WSG Tirol, he received possession in the left half half-space to play a one-touch pass to the nine-space. Nakamura opened the scoring with one of his trademarked runs to the back-post, a cut-back to take a touch and slot into an empty goal. He received possession in a tight space on the left channel to flick a one-touch pass into the half-space during a wide interchange as the Japanese attacker received possession in the wide zone, using his directional first touch to skip past a marker to play a lobbed through ball to a runner who was brought down. Nakamura should have had a second goal as he made an intelligent run to receive a through ball after LASK won a turnover as he curled an opportunity wide of the far post. When the ball was on the opposite flank, he tucked into the ten space, making a run in behind to receive possession as the ball was played behind him for Nakamura to adjust his body to control the pass, driving the ball into the wide areas to attempt a cut-back which was blocked while he regained possession to slam a shot into the side-netting.

Nakamura received possession near the touchline, driving the ball into the centre before threading a through ball for his overlapping fullback to orchestrate an attacking move. He received a switch ball in the left half-space, controlling the ball perfectly and poking the ball goalward with his directional first touch as his opportunity was blocked before he could get a shot away. Nakamura has an intelligence for making vertical runs into the nine-space which allows him to generate high-quality opportunities after turnovers as LASK won a turnover in the opposition half for Nakamura to make a brilliantly timed run into the nine-space for a misplaced pass. He received possession to play a one-touch pass into the half-space before working a one-two with a teammate after a throw-in, playing the ball back to a teammate before moving into the half-space to receive possession, spinning away from a tackle to play the ball to the centre before making a run to the ten space to receive a lay-off from the striker as he had a poor first touch and lost possession.

Marin Ljubicic and Nakamura have a tremendous relationship as the young Croatian striker prefers to drop deep and combine play which allows Nakamura to make runs in behind and occupy more central positions. Nakamura can also find Ljubicic in between the lines with early passes from the wide zone as the Japanese playmaker would cut inside and find the Croatian striker with an impeccable through ball before Nakamura received a back-heel from Ljubicic to have a shot blocked. Nakamura made a run in behind to receive possession, cutting back as his touch was too heavy as he responded by playing the ball into the centre for a lob to be played to his overlapping fullback who crossed for a goal. Nakamura is unique because he can finish goalscoring moves, can orchestrate goalscoring moves from the deeper or wider areas while also playing the final pass to get assist. The 22-year-old received possession on the left flank to cut inside, working a pass to the ten space as a pass was played in behind for Ljubicic to have an opportunity.

Nakamura can also tuck into the ten space to receive early passes in between the lines as he has the intelligence and technique to work connections with his first touch as he had a sequence where he received possession in between the lines to play a one-touch flick to his fullback before he would trade passes with his fullback to move into the centre of the pitch. Nakamura moved to the right flank, driving the ball forward to attempt a through ball for Ljubicic making a run in behind as his pass was too heavy as the 22-year-old tucked into the half-space, receiving possession to spread a pass to the flank for a cross. Nakamura is phenomenal as a playmaker as he can penetrative with line-breaking passes and through balls from a variety of areas and angles as he received a switch pass to drive into the centre and play a fantastic reverse pass to a teammate for a high-quality crossing opportunity. Nakamura notched a goal as he timed his run to perfection to receive a through ball from Ljubicic to calmly dribble past the goalkeeper and apply the finish.

The 22-year-old was controlling the game, driving the ball forward while knowing the perfect time to release the ball during his ball-carrying sequences while he was constantly working combinations with his teammate in the half-space. He made intelligent movements to occupy spaces, playing flick-ons to connect play while in the defensive phase of the game, he is willing to apply pressure while also reacting quickly in counter-pressing situations. Once possession is regained, he is essential to the transition phase as LASK regained possession with Nakamura and Ljubicic making runs in behind to for the former to receive possession, cutting past a defender to drive a shot into the side-netting. Nakamura began to tuck into the central spaces more, dropping into the eight space to receive possession as he played a one-touch through ball to the right flank for a crossing situation. Nakamura spun out of a tackle to play a slide-rule pass before working a cut-back opportunity for a shot on goal.

Nakamura tucked inside to thread a through ball to Ljubicic which was intercepted as he responded immediately, pushing forward to regain possession in the counter-press. He attempted another through ball, receiving possession on the left flank, cutting past one defender before he skipped past a second before he had his pass intercepted. Nakamura finished the game with 3 shots and 1 goal, a 73% pass succession rate in the final third, ¾ takeons and 8 ball recoveries. Away to RB Salzburg, Nakamura struggled to find space on his flank in the early phases of the game, but he regained possession in the pressing phase, working a one-two with a teammate to drive the ball forward, threading a pass for Thomas Goiginger to have a shot saved. The 22-year-old tucked into the centre to receive possession, working, laying off possession to a teammate as he received possession to drive the ball forward and earn a foul.

Nakamura was gradually beginning to get into the game, poking a pass in between the lines before making a run to receive possession, touching the ball towards goal with his first touch as he had a low cross blocked. At the beginning of the second-half, he tucked into the left half-space, receiving a pass to thread a through ball for a runner in the channels for a low cross which was held by the goalkeeper. The Japanese playmaker saw more of the ball in the second-half, holding possession in the half-space to spread possession to the wide zone before he found Ljubicic with a line-breaking pass as the Croat played an inaccurate through ball into the box. The 22-year-old moved into the half-space once more, flicking a pass to a teammate as the ball was deflected into the box for the young striker to latch onto the loose ball and apply the finish. Away to Austria Klagenfurt, he received the ball in his favoured half-space zone once more, driving the ball forward before working a through ball to his overlapping fullback for a low cross as he received possession in the wide zone to play a one-touch pass into the centre.

Nakamura received a switch ball on the left flank to cut inside and fire a shot which was tipped onto the post for Ljubicic to tap in the rebound. When Ljubicic and Nakamura link-up, this allows LASK to speed up their attacking moves as the Japanese attacker latched onto a loose ball, driving the ball forward to play a reverse pass for a teammate to play a cross into the box before Nakamura had a shot blocked from the right side of the box. Nakamura is extremely impressive as he has his finger prints on most of LASK’s crucial attacking moves as he made an interception, cutting inside to play a penetrative through ball to the right flank for Goiginger to thread a pass as Ljubicic had a 1v1 with the goalkeeper and sent a shot wide of the far post. Nakamura lofted a pass to a runner on the flank before tucking inside to receive possession from a cut-back, but his first touch was horrible as he was unable to get a shot away. Defensively, he covered for his fullback to regain possession before nonchalantly back-heeling a pass to a teammate before he tucked into the central positions to regain possession once more, threading a pass to the ten space to instigate a counter-attacking move.

The 22-year-old received possession on the left flank, holding off a marker while cutting into the centre, skipping past a defender as he attempted to poke a pass to a teammate, but his pass was intercepted. He notched yet another goal from a brilliantly timed run in behind situation, receiving a through ball to drive into the box for a 1v1 with the opposition goalkeeper, opening his body to finish with aplomb for his seventh goal of the season. He regained possession to twist and turn out of a situation, playing a sideways pass before making a run to receive a lay-off to win a foul in a good position. His ability to instigate transitions after regaining possession in the pressing phase, counter-pressing phase and defensive phase makes him not only a final third creator but an integral two-way transitional player. He regained possession once more to string together a press-resistant move with intelligent passing and movement as he finished the game with 7 shots, 3 on target, 4/6 takeons and 11 ball recoveries.

At home to Wolfsberg, Nakamura returned after missing the game with Austria Wien as he was involved from the start, receiving a switch ball with a heavy first touch as he was unable to get a shot away but responded with a cut-back to Ljubicic at the top of the box who had a shot blocked. Nakamura worked connections on the left flank before playing a through ball to a runner in the channels. Nakamura made a wonderfully timed vertical runs behind Ljubicic as a lobbed pass was played over his head as he was in the perfect situation to take a touch and apply the finish. He continued to get on the end of good opportunities with brilliant timing of his runs and movement as he received a cross at the back-post to head an opportunity straight at the goalkeeper. Nakamura is constantly making intelligent movements and runs in between the lines to receive possession, moving into the 9 space to receive a deep pass, laying off to a teammate to connect an attacking move.

Nakamura is constantly making well-timed drops into space to receive possession while he also makes runs into the channels and into the nine-space to receive through balls as he had a sequence where he received possession to play a one-touch lay-off to Robert Zulj before he made a run into space to receive possession and have a shot saved. He laid off another deep pass in between the lines, moving into space to receive possession as he drove the ball forward and thread a through ball for a teammate to have a cross blocked. The 22-year-old should have had an assist when he squared a cross into the box for Zulj to tap-in his fourth goal of the game but he mis-kicked the ball into the arms of the goalkeeper. He received possession in between the lines once more, laying off to a teammate before moving to receive possession again as he played a perfectly weighted through ball for Ljubicic in the channels to cut back for a teammate to shoot wide.

Nakamura received a lobbed pass on the left, evading his first marker by lofting the ball over his head before he skipped past a second defender to switch a pass to an attacker on the weak-side who had a shot cannon off the post. Nakamura then notched his eighth goal of the season, playing a through ball to a teammate in the channels from the left half-space before moving into the half-space to latch onto a blocked cross, cutting past a defender to drive the ball home. The Japanese playmaker received possession with his back to goal, playing a one-touch pass to the ten space before making a run into the channels as he did not receive possession. He tucked into the central spaces to take a touch, threading a through ball for a teammate before moving into the ten space as he made a run into the box for a deflected cross which nearly bobbles into his path. The 22-year-old finished the game with 3 shots on target and 1 goal, 3 chances created, a 93% pass succession rate in the final third, 2 tackles and 3/5 takeons.

Nakamura is a playmaker who is currently enjoying a great deal of liberation in LASK’s system as he has perfected the art of making timed runs beyond his striker to receive possession and generate high quality opportunities for himself. Despite his eye for through balls, ball-carrying and well-rounded technique, much of Nakamura’s genius lies in his movement, his ability to move into space to receive possession, connect play, make runs to receive possession and string attacking moves together from a variety of areas of the pitch. The way he utilizes his body to shield possession to buy himself time to receive possession as well as his last-minute body orientations when he receives possession are the facets of his game that make him a shrewd tight-space operator, be it in the transition phase or in the final third. He also has a mastery of receiving possession in the wide zone and cutting past his marker with his first touch while driving the ball forward and using his close control to skip past a second defender as this is how he sets himself up for shooting opportunities or his favoured reverse passes into the channels.

In the final third, is a chance creator with his vision for through balls, threading passes into the channels for crossing opportunities as well as threading passes in behind for teammates to have shooting opportunities. He can also play direct passes to the nine-space from the wide zone as he has a knack of linking play in between the lines and having a variety of touches in goalscoring situations akin to Max Kruse for Werder Bremen in the 2018-19 season. According to Opta, he leads Austria in attacking sequence involvements with 61 as he leads Austria in shots. He also leads Austria in chance leading carries, assist ending carries, key pass ending carries and goal ending carries as he is 8th in expected goals per game and 4th in expected assist per game. He is effective as a ball-carrier and pass and mover in the final third while he also gets into good areas for shooting opportunities with his intelligent movement and runs. In terms of pressing, Nakamura has previously stated that he studied Marco Reus’ pressing movements as he can close down spaces in the pressing phase, can react quickly in the counter-pressing phase as once he regains possession, he has the passing range and ball-carrying to create opportunities with immediacy.

Nakamura will be one of the more sought-after attackers in the next two transfer windows as he already has 8 goals and 3 assists this season. A move to a bigger club would also allow him to gain more appearances for the Japanese National Team as he certainly has the ability to become a pivotal player at International level in the post-World-Cup cycle. Vincent Kompany and Burnley could be a good move for him as the frequency with which they evacuate the nine-space would allow him to occupy central areas, combine play and get on the end of goalscoring opportunities. Russell Martin’s Swansea City would also be a good landing spot for him as he could receive possession in between the lines and connect play in the final third. The Bundesliga would be a good league for him as he could join Union Berlin, SC Freiburg, Eintracht Frankfurt as a replacement for Daichi Kamada, Werder Bremen, Mainz, Augsburg, Stuttgart and Wolfsburg. In Serie A, Atalanta, Sassuolo, Torino, Udinese, Bologna and Lecce would be good moves for him. In Ligue 1, Brest, Toulouse, Nice, Rennes and Lens would also be good moves for him. Nakamura will certainly be one of the more under the radar prospects to watch in Europe.