2025 J2 League

J2 League
Season2025
Dates15 February – 29 November 2025
Matches played249
Goals scored600 (2.41 per match)
Top goalscorerMatheus Jesus (12 goals)
Biggest home winJEF United Chiba 5–1 Ehime FC (16 March)
Iwaki FC 5–1 Roasso Kumamoto (1 June)
Júbilo Iwata 5–1 Consadole Sapporo (12 July)
Biggest away winRoasso Kumamoto 0–4 RB Omiya Ardija (2 March)
Montedio Yamagata 0–4 Ventforet Kofu
Highest scoringV-Varen Nagasaki 3–4 Iwaki FC (25 April)
Montedio Yamagata 3–4 Vegalta Sendai (15 June)
Highest attendance49,991
JEF United Chiba 1–2 RB Omiya Ardija
(6 May 2025)
Lowest attendance2,610
Mito HollyHock 2–1 Roasso Kumamoto
(17 May 2025)
Total attendance2,097,306[1]
Average attendance8,423
← 2024
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 10 August 2025.

The 2025 J2 League, also known as the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2025 明治安田J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2025 Meiji Yasuda J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the 27th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. This will also be the eleventh season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 2.

Overview

This is the last J.League season played in a whole calendar year from late winter to early winter, with the following season onwards played from summer to spring.

Schedule

The league and match format were announced on 25 November 2024, with the season starts on 15 February 2025 and will conclude on 29 November 2025.

Promotion play-off has been scheduled from 7 and 13 December 2025.

Changes from the previous season

Tochigi SC, Kagoshima United and Thespa Gunma were relegated to the 2025 J3 League, finishing the previous season as 18th, 19th and 20th placed, respectively, ended seven, one and five years stays in the second-tier, respectively.

Júbilo Iwata, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Sagan Tosu were relegated from the 2024 J1 League, after one, eight and thirteen season in the top flight, respectively.

Both Shimizu S-Pulse and Yokohama FC are promoted to the 2025 J1 League as champions and runners-up, respectively, of the previous J2 League season. Shizuoka-based Shimizu will return in the top flight of Japanese football after two years absence, while Yokohama FC will make their immediate comeback to the J1. Joining them are Fagiano Okayama, who finished 5th in 2024 and earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus making their first top flight appearance from next season.

2024 J3 League winners Omiya Ardija, runners-up FC Imabari, and promotion play-off winners Kataller Toyama were both promoted from the J3 League. Omiya are returning to the second-tier after one-year absence, Imabari makes their debut in the second-tier for this season and Kataller, who finished 3rd, earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus returning after 11 years absence.

From this season, Omiya Ardija changed their name to RB Omiya Ardija after they were acquired by Red Bull since 2025.

Clubs

Locations of the 2025 J2 League teams
Club name Hometown Stadium Capacity Previous season rank License
Blaublitz Akita Akita, Akita Soyu Stadium 18,560 J2 (10th) J1
Ehime FC All cities/towns in Ehime[a] Ningineer Stadium 20,919 J2 (17st) J1
Fujieda MYFC Cities/towns in Shizuoka Prefecture Fujieda Soccer Stadium 10,057 J2 (13th) J1
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Hokkaido Sapporo Dome 38,794 J1 (19th) J1
FC Imabari Imabari, Ehime ASICS Satoyama Stadium 5,316 J3 (2nd) J2
Iwaki FC Iwaki and Futaba District, Fukushima Hawaiians Stadium Iwaki 5,066 J2 (9th) J1
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba Fukuda Denshi Arena 19,470 J2 (7th) J1
Júbilo Iwata Iwata, Shizuoka Yamaha Stadium 15,156 J1 (18th) J1
Kataller Toyama All cities/towns in Toyama[b] Toyama Athletic Stadium 18,588 J3 (3rd) J1
Mito HollyHock All cities/towns in central and northern Ibaraki[c] K's denki Stadium Mito 10,152 J2 (15th) J1
Montedio Yamagata All cities/towns in Yamagata[d] ND Soft Stadium 20,638 J2 (4th) J1
Oita Trinita Ōita, Ōita Crasus Dome Oita 31,997 J2 (16th) J1
RB Omiya Ardija Saitama, Saitama NACK5 Stadium Omiya 15,491 J3 (1st) J1
Renofa Yamaguchi All cities/towns in Yamaguchi Ishin Me-Life Stadium 15,115 J2 (11th) J1
Roasso Kumamoto Kumamoto, Kumamoto Egao Kenko Stadium 30,275 J2 (12th) J1
Sagan Tosu Tosu, Saga Ekimae Real Estate Stadium 20,805 J1 (20th) J1
Tokushima Vortis Tokushima, Tokushima Pocarisweat Stadium 17,924 J2 (8th) J1
V-Varen Nagasaki All cities/towns in Nagasaki Prefecture[e] Peace Stadium Connected by SoftBank 20,027 J2 (3rd) J1
Vegalta Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Yurtec Stadium Sendai 19,526 J2 (6th) J1
Ventforet Kofu All cities/towns in Yamanashi Prefecture[f] JIT Recycle Ink Stadium 15,853 J2 (14th) J1
  1. ^ centering on Matsuyama
  2. ^ centering on Toyama
  3. ^ Mito, Hitachi, Hitachinaka, Kasama, Naka, Omitama, Hitachiota, Kitaibaraki, Hitachiomiya, Takahagi, Ibaraki, Shirosato, Oarai, Daigo, Tokai
  4. ^ centering on Yamagata, Tendo, Tsuruoka
  5. ^ centering on Nagasaki and Isahaya
  6. ^ centering on Kofu and Nirasaki

Personnel and kits

Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor
Blaublitz Akita Japan Ken Yoshida Japan Hiroto Morooka Brazil Athleta TDK
Ehime FC Japan Shinya Aono (Interim) Japan Fuma Shirasaka Japan Jogarbola Ningineer Network
Fujieda MYFC Japan Daisuke Sudo Japan Masahiko Sugita Japan Gol. Seikan Kensa Center
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Japan Daiki Iwamasa Japan Takuma Arano Japan Mizuno Ishiya
FC Imabari Japan Keiji Kuraishi Japan Yuta Mikado Japan Asics Unicharm
Iwaki FC Japan Yuzo Tamura Japan Ryo Endo United States Under Armour BHC
JEF United Chiba Japan Yoshiyuki Kobayashi Japan Daisuke Suzuki Denmark Hummel Fuji Electric
Júbilo Iwata Malta John Hutchinson Japan Hiroki Yamada England Admiral Yamaha
Kataller Toyama Japan Ryo Adachi Japan Riki Matsuda Japan Goldwin YKK AP
Mito HollyHock Japan Naoki Mori Japan Japan soccer junky K's Holdings
Montedio Yamagata Japan Akinobu Yokouchi Japan Shuto Minami Brazil Penalty ABeam
Oita Trinita Japan Tomohiro Katanosaka Japan Arata Watanabe Germany Puma Daihatsu Kyushu
RB Omiya Ardija Japan Tetsu Nagasawa United States Under Armour Red Bull
Renofa Yamaguchi Japan Genki Nakayama Brazil Finta upr
Roasso Kumamoto Japan Takeshi Oki Japan Rei Hirakawa England Admiral Hirata
Sagan Tosu Japan Akio Kogiku Japan Naoyuki Fujita United States New Balance Kimura Information Technology
Tokushima Vortis Japan Kosaku Masuda Japan Yoichiro Kakitani Japan Mizuno Otsuka Pharmaceutical
(Pocari Sweat)
V-Varen Nagasaki Japan Takuya Takagi Japan Hiroki Akino United States Fanatics Japanet
Vegalta Sendai Japan Yoshiro Moriyama Japan Yasushi Endo Germany Adidas Iris Ohyama
Ventforet Kofu Japan Shinji Otsuka Japan Masahiro Sekiguchi Japan Mizuno Hakubaku

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Serbia Mihailo Petrović[2] End of contract 4 December 2024 Pre-season Japan Daiki Iwamasa[3] 12 December 2024
Júbilo Iwata Japan Akinobu Yokouchi[4] 11 December 2024 Malta John Hutchinson[5] 19 December 2024
Ehime FC JapanKiyotaka Ishimaru Sacked 21 May 2025 20th Japan Shinya Aono (Interim) 21 May 2025 [6]
Kataller Toyama Japan Michiharu Otagiri Resigned 27 May 2025 17th Japan Ryo Adachi 27 May 2025 [7]
V-Varen Nagasaki Japan Takahiro Shimotaira Sacked 17 June 2025 [8] 8th Japan Takuya Takagi 22 June 2025
Montedio Yamagata Japan Susumu Watanabe Sacked 18 June 2025 [9] 17th Japan Jin Sato (interim) 18 June 2025
Renofa Yamaguchi Japan Ryo Shigaki Sacked 24 June 2025 [10] 18th Japan Genki Nakayama 24 June 2025
Montedio Yamagata Japan Jin Sato (interim) End of Interim 25 June 2025 15th Japan Akinobu Yokouchi 25 June 2025 [11]

Foreign players

As of the 2024 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[12] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[13]
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Former players
Blaublitz Akita Serbia Luka Radotić
Ehime FC Australia Ben Duncan Brazil Arthur Viana Brazil Marcel Scalese South Korea Kang Sung-chan South Korea Lee Jae-hwan South Korea Bak Keon-woo
Thailand Ekanit Panya
Fujieda MYFC Brazil Anderson Chaves Brazil Roque Júnior Peru Didier La Torre Senegal Cheikh Diamanka
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Brazil Mário Sérgio Ghana Francis Cann Ghana Kinglord Safo Sierra Leone Amadou Bakayoko South Korea Park Min-gyu Spain Jordi Sánchez Thailand Supachok Sarachat South Korea Kim Gun-hee
FC Imabari Brazil Danilo Cardoso Brazil Marcus Vinícius Brazil Patrick Verhon Brazil Vinícius Diniz Brazil Wesley Tanque South Korea Lee Young-jun
Iwaki FC South Korea Hyun Woo-bin South Korea Joo Hyun-jin South Korea Kim Hyun-woo
JEF United Chiba Brazil Carlinhos Júnior Brazil Derek Brazil Dudu Pacheco Spain José Aurelio Suárez
Júbilo Iwata Belgium Jan Van den Bergh Brazil Gustavo Silva Brazil Matheus Peixoto Brazil Ricardo Graça Thailand Poramet Arjvirai Belgium Jordy Croux
Brazil Léo Gomes
Israel Hassan Hilu
South Korea Park Se-gi
Kataller Toyama Brazil Gabriel Nascimento South Korea Koh Bong-jo
Mito HollyHock
Montedio Yamagata Australia Tom Heward-Belle Georgia (country) Beka Mikeltadze
Oita Trinita Brazil Derlan Brazil Gleyson Brazil Matheus Pereira South Korea Mun Kyung-gun South Korea Kim Hyun-woo
RB Omiya Ardija Brazil Arthur Silva Brazil Gabriel Brazil Mauricio Caprini Colombia Fabián González Nigeria Oriola Sunday
Renofa Yamaguchi Brazil Alef Firmino Netherlands Nick Marsman South Korea Choi Hyung-chan South Korea Kim Byeom-yong Brazil Sílvio
Roasso Kumamoto North Korea Ri Thae-ha South Korea Bae Jeong-min United States Anton Burns
Sagan Tosu Brazil Cristiano Brazil Jô Lithuania Vykintas Slivka South Korea Lee Yoon-sung Ghana Michael Quarcoo
South Korea Yang Han-been
Spain Arnau Riera
Tokushima Vortis Brazil Elsinho Brazil Kaique Brazil Lucas Barcellos Brazil Thonny Anderson Nigeria Lawrence Izuchukwu Brazil João Victor
V-Varen Nagasaki Brazil Diego Pituca Brazil Edigar Junio Brazil Eduardo Brazil Emerson Deocleciano Brazil Matheus Jesus Spain Juanma Brazil Marcos Guilherme
Vegalta Sendai Brazil Eron Brazil Gustavo Santos Brazil Mateus Moraes
Ventforet Kofu Brazil Eduardo Mancha Brazil Matheus Leiria Brazil Mikael Doka Brazil Neemias Brazil Renato Augusto Brazil Val South Korea Lee Min-ki South Korea Taiga Son

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Mito HollyHock 26 15 6 5 40 23 +17 51 Promotion to the 2026–27 J1 League
2 JEF United Chiba 26 14 6 6 37 23 +14 48
3 V-Varen Nagasaki 26 12 9 5 43 37 +6 45 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Tokushima Vortis 26 12 8 6 26 14 +12 44
5 RB Omiya Ardija 26 12 8 6 37 22 +15 44
6 Vegalta Sendai 26 11 10 5 30 25 +5 43
7 Sagan Tosu 26 12 6 8 27 24 +3 42
8 Júbilo Iwata 26 12 5 9 41 36 +5 41
9 FC Imabari 26 10 10 6 33 26 +7 40
10 Ventforet Kofu 26 10 8 8 27 23 +4 38
11 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 26 10 4 12 32 43 −11 34
12 Blaublitz Akita 26 9 4 13 34 43 −9 31
13 Iwaki FC 26 7 9 10 33 36 −3 30
14 Montedio Yamagata 26 8 5 13 36 38 −2 29
15 Fujieda MYFC 26 7 8 11 29 34 −5 29
16 Oita Trinita 26 6 10 10 22 28 −6 28
17 Roasso Kumamoto 26 7 6 13 32 41 −9 27
18 Kataller Toyama 26 5 8 13 22 33 −11 23 Relegation to the 2026–27 J3 League
19 Renofa Yamaguchi 26 3 12 11 23 33 −10 21
20 Ehime FC 26 2 10 14 23 45 −22 16
Updated to match(es) played on 17 August 2025. Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.

Play-offs

Season statistics

As of 10 August 2025

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[14][15]
1 Brazil Matheus Jesus V-Varen Nagasaki 12
2 Japan Arata Watanabe Mito HollyHock 11
3 Japan Ren Komatsu Blaublitz Akita 10
4 Japan Ryo Shiohama Roasso Kumamoto 9
Brazil Marcus Índio FC Imabari
6 Japan Akira Silvano Disaro Montedio Yamagata 8
Japan Kaina Tanimura Iwaki FC
Brazil Matheus Peixoto Júbilo Iwata
Brazil Lucas Barcellos Tokushima Vortis
10 Japan Daichi Ishikawa JEF United Chiba 7
Japan Yuta Goke Vegalta Sendai
Spain Juanma V-Varen Nagasaki
Sierra Leone Amadou Bakayoko Consadole Sapporo

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Monthly MVP Goal of the Month Young Player of the Month Save of the Month References
Manager Club Player Club Player Club Player Club Player Club
February/March Japan Yoshiyuki Kobayashi JEF United Chiba Japan Ren Komatsu Blaublitz Akita Japan Akira Silvano Disaro Montedio Yamagata Japan Rion Ichihara RB Omiya Ardija Japan Tomoki Tagawa Kataller Toyama [16]
April Japan Yoshiro Moriyama Vegalta Sendai Japan Arata Watanabe Mito HollyHock Japan Issei Takahashi JEF United Chiba Japan Ota Yamamoto Renofa Yamaguchi Japan Taro Hamada Oita Trinia [17]
May Japan Naoki Mori Mito HollyHock Japan Arata Watanabe Mito HollyHock Japan Shunsuke Saito Mito HollyHock Japan Taisei Abe V-Varen Nagasaki Japan Takashi Kasahara RB Omiya Ardija [18]
June Japan Yoshiro Moriyama Vegalta Sendai Japan Tomoki Takamine Consadole Sapporo Japan Naoki Kumata Iwaki FC Japan Keito Kumashiro Roasso Kumamoto Japan Akihiro Hayashi Vegalta Sendai [19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "J. League Data Site". data.j-league.or.jp. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  2. ^ "ミハイロ ペトロヴィッチ監督 退任のお知らせ" [Notice of retirement of Coach Mihajlo Petrović]. Consadole-sapporo.jp/ (in Japanese). Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  3. ^ "ランコ ポポヴィッチ氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of appointment of Daiki Iwamasa as manager] (in Japanese). Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  4. ^ "横内 昭展監督 辞任のお知らせ" [Announcement of Director Akinobu Yokouchi's resignation]. Jubilo-iwata.co.jp (in Japanese). Júbilo Iwata. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ "松橋力蔵氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of new head coach John Hutchinson] (in Japanese). Júbilo Iwata. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Ehime manager change announcement, resignation old manager and appointment of new manager". ehimefc.com/. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Kataller Toyama manager change announcement, resignation old manager and appointment of new manager". www.kataller.co.jp. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Notice of contract cancellation of Takahiro Shimodaira and appointment of Takuya Takagi". www.v-varen.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  9. ^ "渡邉 晋 監督　契約解除のお知らせ".
  10. ^ "志垣 良監督 契約解除のお知らせ".
  11. ^ "横内 昭展 氏　監督就任のお知らせ".
  12. ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について". J.LEAGUE.jp. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  13. ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" (PDF). jfa.jp.
  14. ^ "All Positions | Goals | All clubs | MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE | 2025 Player Stats". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  15. ^ "J. League Data Site". data.j-league.or.jp. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  16. ^ "2・3月度「2025 明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」「月間ベストセーブ賞」の各賞も決定！" [The "2025 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for February and March has been announced! The awards for "Best Goal of the Month," "Excellent Manager of the Month," "Young Player of the Month," and "Best Save of the Month" have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  17. ^ "4月度「2025 明治安田Ｊリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」「月間ベストセーブ賞」の各賞も決定！" [The "2025 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for April has been announced! The winners of the "Monthly Best Goal," "Monthly Outstanding Manager," "Monthly Young Player," and "Monthly Best Save" awards have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  18. ^ "明治安田Ｊリーグ 月間表彰：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  19. ^ "6月度「2025明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」「月間ベストセーブ賞」の各賞も決定！" [The "2025 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for June has been announced! The winners of the "Monthly Best Goal", "Monthly Outstanding Manager", "Monthly Young Player", and "Monthly Best Save" awards have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
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