Bristol City

Yu Hirakawa

A quick, direct forward who thinks about the cross before he thinks about the shot, arriving from the flank with real pace and an instinct for picking out a teammate. He was named among his own league's best players before he had even left Japan.
Japan Bristol City MID
Appearances
9
Goals
1

Season Snapshot

Minutes played
573
63.66 per match
Assists
0
Key passes
6
Pass accuracy
75%

Season Stats

Appearances
9
Minutes played
573
Goals
1
Assists
0
Key passes
6
Accuracy
75%

League Rankings

Among EFL Championship 2026/27 midfielders

Assists
56th of 56
Key passes
44th of 147
Pass accuracy
105th of 150
Goals
54th of 60
👻 Ghost Players #62 of 434
😈 Bad Boys #108 of 467
👑 Assist Kings #154 of 421
🎯 Pass Master #251 of 554
💪 Workhorses #306 of 434
img EFL
BRC
BRC
19:45
Tue 13 Oct
BLA
BLA
img EFL
BRC
BRC
15:00
Sat 17 Oct
SHU
SHU
img EFL
STO
STO
15:00
Sat 24 Oct
BRC
BRC
img EFL
BOL
BOL
15:00
Sat 31 Oct
BRC
BRC
img EFL
BRC
BRC
20:00
Wed 4 Nov
WOL
WOL

Yu Hirakawa, The Forward Who Reads The Cross

A Japanese international forward whose delivery from wide areas has already produced a genuinely decisive moment abroad.

Hirakawa built his reputation in Japan playing a direct, wide style, taking defenders on and getting to the byline rather than cutting inside to shoot early. He was named his league's player of the month during his breakthrough season, recognition that persuaded a Championship club to take a chance on him. A deflected cross of his has already proved decisive at a crucial moment on loan, the sort of contribution that rarely makes a highlight reel.

The tension with any forward moving from Japanese football to England is physical, whether the pace that worked in one league survives the extra contact of another. Hirakawa answers part of that question simply by being quick enough to get away before a challenge lands. Watch whether he keeps hugging the touchline or drifts inside once defenders learn to show him down the line.

The Rest Of The Squad

32 players

Goalkeepers

1
Sam Tickle
Wigan Athletic · Age 24
9 apps
40
Bradley Collins
Burton Albion · Age 29
0 apps
32
Lewis Thomas
Age 29
0 apps

Defenders

21
Rio Cardines
Crystal Palace · Age 20
9 apps 6a
2
Lisav Eissat
Age 21
8 apps 1g
3
Cameron Pring
Age 28
7 apps
19
George Tanner
Age 26
7 apps
16
Rob Dickie
Age 30
7 apps 1g
5
Rob Atkinson
Age 28
5 apps
38
Noah Eile
Age 24
3 apps
15
Luke McNally
Age 27
1 app
31
Elijah Morrison
Forest Green Rovers · Age 20
0 apps
30
Marley Thelwell
Age 18
0 apps
24
Seb Naylor
Age 21
0 apps
—
Tomos Gibbs
Age 18
0 apps

Midfielders

12
Jason Knight
Age 25
9 apps 1g
20
Sam Greenwood
Age 24
9 apps
17
Jed Wallace
West Bromwich Albion · Age 32
8 apps 1a
8
Joe Williams
Age 29
7 apps
10
Scott Twine
Age 27
7 apps 3g
27
Gibson Yah
Age 23
6 apps
4
Adam Randell
Age 26
4 apps
14
Tomi Horvat
Age 27
3 apps
6
Brian De Keersmaecker
Oxford United · Age 26
1 app
42
Daniel Ezendu
Age 17
0 apps
29
Leo Pecover
Weston-super-Mare · Age 18
0 apps
—
Louie Derrick
Age 18
0 apps
—
Rhys Knight
Age 19
0 apps

Forwards

23
Dom Ballard
Leyton Orient · Age 21
9 apps 3g
9
Lorent Tolaj
Plymouth Argyle · Age 24
8 apps 2g 1a
45
Elijah Adebayo
Luton Town · Age 28
4 apps
11
Sam Bell
Age 24
3 apps
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