Yasuki Kimoto

is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre back or a defensive midfielder for J1 League club Mito HollyHock.

Career

Kimoto joined Cerezo Osaka from Fukuoka University in 2016 and was initially assigned to Cerezo Osaka U-23. He scored his first professional league goal on his first team debut for Cerezo Osaka, scoring the winning goal in the 90th+4th minute. On 18 March 2017, Kimoto made his J1 League debut against Sagan Tosu and assisted Kazuya Yamamura's winning goal. On 8 October 2017, in the second leg of the semi-finals of the J.League Cup, Kimoto scored in the 90th+5th minute to send Cerezo Osaka to the first ever final. A few weeks after the match, he was quoted as saying: "I want to win and keep playing in the games". Cerezo would go on to win the J League Cup.

On 24 December 2020, Kimoto was announced at Nagoya Grampus on a permanent transfer. On 15 May 2021, his Nagoya teammate and captain Yuichi Maruyama was injured against Shimizu S-Pulse, and Kimoto was substituted on as his replacement.

On 19 December 2021, Kimoto was announced at FC Tokyo on a permanent transfer. He joined the team that his role model, Masato Morishige, plays for. Kimoto said: "I don't think it's an easy wall to overcome. It will be difficult, but I need to use my footwork, which is my forte, to perform better than Morishige.".

Style of play

Kimoto can play as a center back or defensive midfielder, and is noted for his passing skills.

Club statistics .

Honours Nagoya Grampus J.League Cup: 2021