Rion Ichihara

Rion Ichihara
市原 吏音
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-07-07) 7 July 2005 (age 21)
Place of birth Saitama, Japan
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 AZ
Number 31
Youth career
Omiya Ryusei SSS
–2023 RB Omiya Ardija
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 RB Omiya Ardija 77 (5)
2026– AZ 3 (0)
2026– Jong AZ 10 (0)
International career‡
2023 Japan U18 2 (0)
2023–2024 Japan U19 4 (0)
2024–2025 Japan U20 16 (3)
2025 Japan U22 1 (0)
2025– Japan U23 9 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2026 Aichi–Nagoya
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 September 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 October 2026

Rion Ichihara (市原 吏音, Ichihara Rion; born 7 July 2005) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie club AZ.

Early life

Ichihara was born in Saitama, Japan.

Club career

As a youth player, Ichihara joined the youth academy of Japanese side RB Omiya Ardija and was promoted to the club's senior team in 2023, where he made seventy-eight league appearances and scored five goals and helped them achieve promotion from the third tier to the second tier. Following his stint there, he signed for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2026.

International career

Ichihara is a Japan youth international. During January 2026, he played for the Japan national under-23 football team at the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

Style of play

Ichihara plays as a defender. Japanese magazine Soccer Hihyo wrote in 2026 that he "is a center back who combines height of 187cm with strength and skill with his feet, and leads the defensive line with exceptional leadership".

Career statistics

As of match played 15 September 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
RB Omiya Ardija 2023 J2 League 17010——180
2024 J3 League 31410——324
2025 J2 League 29100—10301
Total 77520—10805
AZ 2025–26 Eredivisie 200010—30
2026–27 Eredivisie 100000—10
Total 300010—40
Jong AZ 2025–26 Eerste Divisie 60———60
2026–27 Eerste Divisie 40———40
Total 100———100
Career total 905201010945
  1. ↑ Appearance in promotion play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Conference League

Honours

RB Omiya Ardija

AZ

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "一部周囲の見方に「それは全く違う」..."ロス世代"主将の大宮DF市原吏音がAZに完全移籍! 長文で想いを綴る" [Responding to some of the surrounding opinions with "That's completely wrong," Omiya defender Rion Ichihara, captain of the "Lost Generation," makes a permanent transfer to AZ! He expresses his thoughts in a lengthy message] (in Japanese). Gekisaka. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  2. ↑ Rion Ichihara at WorldFootball.net
  3. ↑ "｢こ、このシルエットは...！｣オランダ1部AZがU-23日本代表20歳主将の獲得を"匂わせ"演出！｢このフォルムは彼しかいない｣｢しかもめっちゃ期待されてる」" ["Th-this silhouette...! " Dutch Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar hints at the acquisition of the 20-year-old captain of the Japan U-23 national team with a suggestive presentation! "This form can only be him," "And he's clearly highly anticipated"] (in Japanese). Soccer Hihyo. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  4. ↑ "Standings". jleague.co. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  5. ↑ "Parrott, Koopmeiners shine as AZ Alkmaar wins KNVB Cup after 13 years". Sport Star. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "AZ rout 10-man PSV 4-0 to lift second Johan Cruyff Shield". NL Times. 2 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "２０２５Ｊ２リーグアウォーズ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Ｊ３受賞選手：明治安田Ｊ３リーグアウォーズ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 February 2026.