Japanese defender Yuki Kobayashi, born 18 July 2000, presently proffers his services to Portimonense in Portugal. Standing at 6ft (1.85m) and tipping the scales at 11st 11lb (75kg), Kobayashi anchors the defence with imposing physical presence. His ability is currently valued at approximately €650k, equivalent to about £550k, as indicated by Transfermarkt. Coins in the club's coffer are well secured till 30 June 2027 as he still has 2 years and 9 months left on his contract with Portimonense.
Kobayashi initially cut his teeth in professional football with Vissel Kobe in the J1 League in Japan, having joined them in January 2018. During his debut season, Kobayashi was gradually eased into the first-team setup, making two league appearances. His involvement increased notably in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, featuring in 22 and 32 league matches respectively.
Seeking more game time, Kobayashi embarked on a couple of loan spells in Japan. In July 2019, he was loaned to Machida Zelvia in the J1 League. The following January, he switched to Yokohama FC in the J2 League, where he made 28 league appearances and managed to net two goals.
January 2023 brought about a significant change in Kobayashi's career as he was transferred to Celtic in Scotland for an undisclosed fee. Unfortunately, his stay in the Scottish Premiership was short and less impactful, with Kobayashi making only five league appearances in the 2022-23 season.
Subsequently, In August 2024, Kobayashi left Celtic for Portimonense in the Liga Portugal 2. In the current 2024-25 season, he has featured in three league matches for his new club. Despite his limited time at Celtic, his performance and commitment to the club were noteworthy and he left an indelible mark on the Hoops' faithful.
