Tsuyoshi Watanabe has quietly become one of the most talked-about Japanese defenders in European football.
From the J1 League pitches of FC Tokyo to the Eredivisie spotlight at Feyenoord, his career has been a steady climb.
This article covers Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s net worth, his Feyenoord salary, contract value, career earnings, and everything fans want to know about his rise to the top.
Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tsuyoshi Watanabe (渡辺 剛) |
| Date of Birth | February 5, 1997 |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Place of Birth | Saitama, Japan |
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position | Centre-Back |
| Current Club | Feyenoord (Eredivisie) |
| Turned Professional | 2018 (FC Tokyo) |
| Net Worth | ~€3.5 million (estimated) |
| Annual Salary | €880,000 per year |
| Weekly Wage | €16,900 per week |
| Market Value | €10 million |
| Agent | JEB Entertainment |
Early Life and Career
Tsuyoshi Watanabe was born on February 5, 1997, in Saitama, a city on the outskirts of Tokyo.
He grew up in a household with an older brother and sister, and it was his brother’s love for football that first pulled him toward the game — he started kicking a ball at just three years old.
At the age of 15, Watanabe relocated to Yamanashi Prefecture to attend Yamanashi Gakuin University High School, committing to a two-hour train journey each way for the chance to develop as a footballer.
After finishing high school, he enrolled at Chuo University in Tokyo, where he continued his footballing education from 2015 to 2018.
It was during his university years that Watanabe transitioned from a midfielder into a centre-back — a position change that would define his entire career.
His combination of aerial ability, defensive composure, and reading of the game earned him recognition as one of the top performers in the Japanese university football system, which eventually caught the eye of professional scouts.
Professional Career
Watanabe signed with FC Tokyo in 2018 and made his professional debut in the J1 League in 2019. He quickly established himself as a first-team regular, going on to make 103 appearances for the club across all competitions and scoring 7 goals.
One of his standout moments came on January 4, 2021, when he captained FC Tokyo in the J.League Cup final against Kashiwa Reysol — a match FC Tokyo won 2–1, claiming their third J.League Cup title.
His consistent performances drew interest from European clubs, and on December 28, 2021, he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk.
He adapted quickly to European football and spent a full season establishing himself in Belgium, which led to a bigger move.
In July 2023, fellow Belgian club KAA Gent signed him for a reported €3.5 million, as tracked by Transfermarkt’s player profile.
At Gent, Watanabe grew into a leader, eventually wearing the captain’s armband. His performances across two seasons — 100 appearances, 6 goals — made him one of the most reliable defenders in the Belgian top flight.
In July 2025, Feyenoord signed him for €8 million, according to data published on Football Transfers, replacing the outgoing David Hancko in their defensive setup.
He has since featured regularly for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie and UEFA club competitions, appearing 35 times in the 2025–26 season and scoring 4 goals.
On the international stage, Watanabe made his debut for the Japan national team in December 2019 at the E-1 Football Championship against Hong Kong.
He was selected for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup squad by manager Hajime Moriyasu in January 2024.
Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s has an estimated net worth of approximately €3.5 million.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts across Japan, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with his Feyenoord deal representing the highest-earning phase of his career to date.
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Contract
Watanabe signed a four-year contract with Feyenoord in July 2025, running through June 30, 2029.
According to Capology’s salary tracker, the total remaining contract value stands at €3.92 million over the remaining years of the deal.
Feyenoord paid KAA Gent a transfer fee of €8 million to secure his signature, making it one of the more significant defensive investments the Dutch club has made in recent years.
Salary
Watanabe earns a base salary of €880,000 per year (approximately €16,900 per week) at Feyenoord, as confirmed by SalaryLeaks.
He can also earn up to €264,000 per year in performance-related bonuses, bringing his potential total annual package to around €1.14 million.
Prior to Feyenoord, his earnings at KAA Gent and KV Kortrijk were lower, reflecting the smaller wage structures of those Belgian clubs.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | FC Tokyo | ~€150,000 |
| 2020 | FC Tokyo | ~€180,000 |
| 2021 | FC Tokyo | ~€200,000 |
| 2022 (Jan–Jun) | KV Kortrijk | ~€120,000 |
| 2022–23 | KV Kortrijk | ~€240,000 |
| 2023–24 | KAA Gent | ~€500,000 |
| 2024–25 | KAA Gent | ~€600,000 |
| 2025–26 | Feyenoord | €880,000 (+ up to €264k bonus) |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Assists | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Tokyo | 2019 | J1 League | 20 | 2 | — | 31 | 2 |
| FC Tokyo | 2020 | J1 League | 28 | 2 | — | 38 | 2 |
| FC Tokyo | 2021 | J1 League | 27 | 1 | — | 34 | 2 |
| FC Tokyo Total | 75 | 5 | 103 | 7 | |||
| KV Kortrijk | 2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 |
| KV Kortrijk | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 1 | — | 34 | 1 |
| Kortrijk Total | 41 | 1 | 43 | 1 | |||
| KAA Gent | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 36 | 2 | — | 52 | 3 |
| KAA Gent | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 2 | — | 48 | 3 |
| Gent Total | 70 | 4 | 100 | 6 | |||
| Feyenoord | 2025–26 | Eredivisie | 26 | 1 | — | 35 | 4 |
| Career Total | 212 | 11 | 281 | 17 |
| Japan National Team | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 4+ | 0 |
FAQs
What is Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s net worth?
Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s estimated net worth is approximately €3.5 million. He earned this through his professional contracts at FC Tokyo, KV Kortrijk, KAA Gent, and now Feyenoord.
How much does Tsuyoshi Watanabe earn at Feyenoord?
He earns €880,000 per year (€16,900 per week) as his base salary at Feyenoord. He can also earn up to €264,000 in annual bonuses, taking his maximum package close to €1.14 million per season.
When did Tsuyoshi Watanabe join Feyenoord?
He joined Feyenoord in July 2025 on a four-year contract running until June 2029. Feyenoord paid KAA Gent a transfer fee of €8 million to sign him.
What is Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s market value?
His current market value is listed at €10 million on Transfermarkt. Football Transfers estimates his value between €8.3 million and €11.2 million.
How many goals has Tsuyoshi Watanabe scored in his career?
He has scored 17 goals in 281 total career appearances across all competitions for his clubs. He also scored 5 goals in 75 J1 League games alone for FC Tokyo.
