Yuto Tsunashima was born on 15 August 2000 and rose through the Tokyo Verdy youth setup. A 188cm midfielder with an unusual combination of size, ball-playing security and tactical intelligence, he made his way into the senior side at Verdy across J2 and then helped them return to J1.
Tsunashima's J2 career peaked in 2023 with 36 league appearances and 2 goals. He continued as a starter through Verdy's J1 return: 30 J1 appearances with 2 goals and 2 assists in 2024, then 23 league matches with 3 goals and an assist across the first half of 2025. In August 2025 Tsunashima moved to Belgian Pro League side Antwerp on a permanent transfer.
His Antwerp debut has been excellent: 30 Pro League appearances with a goal across the second half of 2025 — quickly establishing himself as a regular in one of Belgium's traditional clubs.
For Japan, Tsunashima won the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship with the senior side, scoring 3 goals and providing an assist in the calendar year's friendlies. He combines defensive midfield duties with goal-scoring runs from deep — a profile Japan has not had in abundance.
A 188cm two-footed central midfielder with the height to defend set pieces and the technique to carry the ball through pressing lines, Tsunashima is one of the breakout names in the wider 2026 FIFA World Cup squad picture, having surged into Japan camps in 2025.