Hirotaka Mita

Hirotaka Mita
三田 啓貴
Personal information
Full name Hirotaka Mita
Date of birth (1990-09-14) 14 September 1990
Place of birth Setagaya, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Ayutthaya United
Youth career
2000–2002 Buddy FC
2003–2008 FC Tokyo
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Meiji University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 FC Tokyo 60 (5)
2016 → Vegalta Sendai (loan) 31 (3)
2017 Vegalta Sendai 33 (5)
2018–2019 Vissel Kobe 47 (7)
2019–2022 FC Tokyo 88 (3)
2023–2024 Yokohama FC 43 (2)
2025 Oliveirense 6 (0)
2025–2026 Nakhon Ratchasima 29 (3)
2026– Ayutthaya United 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 May 2026, 16:27 (UTC+7)

Hirotaka Mita (三田 啓貴, Mita Hirotaka, born September 14, 1990) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and currently plays for Thai League 1 club, Ayutthaya United. Known for his versatility and work rate, Mita has played over 300 matches in Japan's top tiers and has recently ventured into international leagues, showcasing his adaptability at age 35.

Early life

Born in Setagaya, Tokyo, Mita grew up in a vibrant urban environment that fostered his early interest in football. He began his youth career with Buddy FC from 2000 to 2002 before joining the prestigious FC Tokyo youth academy from 2003 to 2008. Mita opted for higher education at Meiji University, a renowned institution for developing football talent in Japan, where he played university football from 2009 to 2012. During his time at Meiji, he made 4 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Emperor's Cup as a special designated player for the JFA and J.League in 2012, demonstrating his early potential. His decision to pursue university football before turning professional reflects a thoughtful approach to his career, prioritizing development over an immediate leap to professional football.

Playing style

As an attacking midfielder, Mita is recognized for his versatility, technical proficiency, and high work rate. Capable of playing as a central midfielder or right midfielder, he excels in linking play between defense and attack, often serving as a creative hub with precise left-footed passes and through balls.His high/medium work rate allows him to contribute defensively by pressing opponents and tracking back, making him a well-rounded midfielder. While not a prolific goal-scorer, with 25 goals in 308 league appearances, Mita’s playmaking ability is evident in his capacity to create scoring opportunities and maintain possession. His standout performance, including a hat-trick in a 2018 J.League Cup match.

Career

Mita began his professional career with FC Tokyo in 2012, where he played 60 matches and scored 5 goals over four years. In 2016, he was loaned to Vegalta Sendai, where he made 31 appearances and scored 3 goals, before signing permanently in 2017 for 33 appearances and 5 goals. In 2018, Mita joined Vissel Kobe, where he played alongside global superstar Andrés Iniesta, a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain, and Lukas Podolski, a German World Cup winner, contributing to Vissel Kobe’s 2019 Japanese Super Cup victory. He made 47 appearances and scored 7 goals during his time at Kobe. Mita returned to FC Tokyo in 2019, achieving a milestone of 200 J1 League appearances in 2020, a testament to his durability and consistency. He played 88 matches and scored 3 goals in his second stint at FC Tokyo, also winning the 2020 J.League Cup. In 2023, he joined Yokohama FC, making 43 appearances and scoring 2 goals over two seasons.

On 6 February 2025, Mita joined Liga Portugal 2 club, Oliveirense, marking his first overseas transfer at the age of 34. He played 6 matches for the club in the 2024–25 season. 2025, Mita transferred to Thai League 1 club, Nakhon Ratchasima, continuing his overseas career in Thailand’s top-tier league.

Notable teammates

During his time at Vissel Kobe in 2018–2019, Mita played alongside high-profile teammates including spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta and german striker Lukas Podolski. At FC Tokyo, Mita shared the pitch with established Japanese internationals such as Yuto Nagatomo.

While these experiences provided Mita with significant exposure to elite-level talent, he is generally characterized as a reliable and versatile professional rather than a superstar.

Career statistics

Club

As of 31 May 2025.[1][2][3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Club Season League AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals Apps Goals AppsGoals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J. League Cup AFC Total
FC Tokyo 2012J.League Div 1100010 –20
20131724141 –254
20142422031 –293
2015J1 League1811062 –253
Total 60571144–8110
Vegalta Sendai (loan) 2016 J1 League3131050 –373
Vegalta Sendai 20173350092 –427
Vissel Kobe 2018 J1 League3263320 –379
2019 1511050–211
Total !4774370–5810
FC Tokyo 2019 J1 League 1410020–161
2020 261003040331
2021 32110111–442
2022 1600051–211
Total 88310212401145
Yokohama FC 2023 J1 League3102030–00
2024 J2 League122112000
Total 4323150–513
Oliveirense 2025 Liga Portugal 26000–60
Nakhon Ratchasima 2025 Thai League 12100–21
Career total 308251656184038938

Honours

Club

Vissel Kobe

FC Tokyo

References

  1. ↑ 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, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 72 out of 289)
  2. ↑ 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, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 116 out of 289)
  3. ↑ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Hirotaka Mita Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
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