2025 Season Preview: Urawa Red Diamonds | OneFootball

Urawa Reds stand at a crossroads after a season of mixed fortunes. With strategic signings bolstering their squad and a renewed sense of purpose, the Red Diamonds aim to recapture their former glory in the 2025 J1 League campaign.

The road ahead

Urawa's recruitment strategy paid dividends last season with Matheus Sávio, Takuro Kaneko, and Toshiki Takahashi proving to be astute acquisitions. Sávio's versatility added both defensive stability and attacking threat, while Kaneko injected much-needed creativity from midfield.

Defensively, the partnership between Marius Høibråten and Danilo Boza developed into a formidable unit, delivering clean sheets against quality opposition like Vissel Kobe early in the season. This resilience helped stabilize a backline that had previously lost key personnel.

Statement victories over Sanfrecce Hiroshima (3-0) and Kashiwa Reysol (1-0) demonstrated Urawa's capability to compete with the league's elite. In attack, Thiago Santana remained a consistent goal threat, while the midfield creativity of Sávio and Samuel Gustafson created regular scoring opportunities.

Manager Maciej Skorża, who continues at the helm for 2025, showed tactical flexibility by adapting formations based on opposition. The team also improved their set-piece efficiency, adding another dimension to their attacking arsenal.

However, inconsistency plagued Urawa throughout the campaign. Despite possessing quality, they repeatedly faltered against mid-table opposition, with disappointing results against Avispa Fukuoka and Tokyo Verdy proving particularly costly.

Defensive vulnerabilities were exposed at critical moments, including late equalizers conceded against Kawasaki Frontale. Communication issues within the squad – highlighted by former player Bryan Linssen – affected both on-field coordination and team chemistry.

The attack underperformed relative to the talent available, with forward Shohei Hirano noting that players struggled to understand each other's styles. Set-piece conversion rates dropped below historical standards, and the departure of influential figures like Shohei Kashiwa and Alexander Scholz created a leadership vacuum.

Form deteriorated significantly toward the season's end, with a defeat to Avispa Fukuoka in Round 37 and a draw with Yokohama F. Marinos in Round 35 epitomizing their late-season struggles. Mental resilience became a concern after several instances of surrendering leads or conceding late goals.

For 2025, Takahiro Sekine takes the captain's armband, supported by a leadership group including Shusaku Nishikawa, Marius Høibråten, Genki Haraguchi, Matheus Savio, and Ryoma Watanabe. With Skorża afforded a full preseason to implement his philosophy, Urawa will be hoping for greater consistency as they pursue a return to the upper echelons of Japanese football.

Transfer strategy

Urawa's hierarchy responded to last season's inconsistency with a comprehensive squad overhaul during the winter transfer window. The Red Diamonds executed eleven inbound transfers while sanctioning seven departures in a clear statement of intent for the 2025 campaign.

The recruitment drive focused heavily on domestic talent, with Matheus Sávio's permanent acquisition from Kashiwa Reysol representing the headline move. The Brazilian's creative influence during his initial loan spell convinced Urawa to secure his services long-term. Takuro Kaneko's arrival from Belgian side Kortrijk adds further attacking impetus, while Takuya Ogiwara returns to Japan following his European adventure with Dinamo Zagreb.

Defensive reinforcement came in the form of Brazilian center-back Danilo Boza from Juventude, whose aerial prowess and physical presence should complement Marius Høibråten's more technical approach. Toshiki Takahashi (Yokohama FC) and Tsubasa Matsumoto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) strengthen midfield options, with both players offering valuable J1 League experience.

The club also demonstrated a commitment to future planning by acquiring promising talents like Ryusei Kihara from Parceiro Nagano and university graduate Ryoga Sato from Tsukuba University.

Several significant departures balanced the books, with Dutch forward Bryan Linssen returning to his homeland with NEC Nijmegen after an underwhelming spell. Thai international Ekanit Panya's move to Muangthong United opened an international roster spot, while promising defender Ayumu Ohata secured a European opportunity with Belgium's OH Leuven.

The domestic market saw Yusuke Sato join Nagoya Grampus and Yoshiki Koizumi move to Kashiwa Reysol in a curious exchange that saw Sávio travel in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, youngsters Koki Kudo and Yuki Horiuchi were loaned to Fagiano Okayama and Tochigi SC respectively to continue their development.

Skorża's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation appears tailored to maximize the squad's strengths. Veteran goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa provides reliability between the posts, while the back four of Ogiwara, Boza, Høibråten and Hirokazu Ishihara combines experience with athleticism.

The double pivot of Matsumoto and Takahashi should offer defensive protection while facilitating transitions, allowing the attacking trio of Sávio, Kaneko and captain Sekine to support evergreen striker Shinzo Koroki.

This revamped squad boasts significantly improved midfield creativity through Sávio and Matsumoto, while the defensive reinforcements address last season's vulnerability. The depth acquired across all positions ensures Skorża has tactical flexibility and injury insurance, with the blend of seasoned professionals and emerging talents creating healthy competition throughout the squad.

Remaining challenges

Despite the extensive recruitment drive, Urawa's squad still presents several areas of concern heading into the heart of the 2025 season. The most glaring issue remains the lack of a prolific center-forward to lead the line. While veteran Shinzo Koroki continues to offer reliability, his advancing years raise questions about sustainability across a demanding campaign. The absence of a younger, clinical finisher could prove costly in tight matches where chances are at a premium.

Defensive cohesion represents another significant challenge. The integration of Danilo Boza and Takuya Ogiwara into the backline will require time, with early-season fixtures already exposing communication issues. Chemistry between new defensive partnerships rarely develops overnight, and opponents will look to exploit this vulnerability during the adjustment period.

The club's heavy reliance on new signings carries inherent risk. With established performers like Yoshiki Koizumi and Ayumu Ohata departing, pressure falls on recent arrivals to deliver immediately. Any adaptation struggles could severely disrupt team rhythm, particularly in a league as competitive as the J1.

Depth concerns persist in specific positions. Despite Tsubasa Matsumoto and Toshiki Takahashi providing quality in holding midfield, the squad lacks experienced alternatives should either face injury or suspension. Similarly, full-back options remain limited beyond the starting pair, with any absences potentially exposing defensive frailties on the flanks.

The season has already begun with mixed fortunes for Urawa. A respectable goalless draw at Vissel Kobe on opening day was followed by a 1-1 stalemate at Kyoto Sanga, before a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Shonan Bellmare highlighted defensive vulnerabilities despite Thiago Santana's attacking contributions.

The upcoming fixture against Kashiwa Reysol on March 2nd represents a crucial opportunity to secure a first win in their Saitama Stadium homecoming. Later season highlights include heavyweight clashes with Yokohama F. Marinos (April 20th and October 18th) and a potentially decisive final day encounter with Kawasaki Frontale on December 6th.

Beyond domestic competition, Urawa faces an exciting but demanding FIFA Club World Cup campaign. High-profile group stage matches against South American giants River Plate (June 17th) and European powerhouse Inter Milan (June 21st) will test their credentials on the global stage while stretching squad resources.

Balancing these international commitments with domestic priorities will challenge Skorża's tactical acumen and squad management. The early-season struggles have already exposed inconsistency in attack and defensive frailties, particularly during transitions. The leadership of Høibråten and Boza will be crucial in addressing these issues as the campaign progresses.

Urawa's extensive rebuild offers genuine promise but comes with significant uncertainty. Their blend of experienced professionals and emerging talents should secure a comfortable mid-table finish, though challenging for AFC Champions League qualification appears ambitious. Expect the Red Diamonds to finish 7th in the J1 League – respectable progress from last season, but still short of returning to Japan's elite.