Ai Ogawa

Ai Ogawa is a Japanese professional footballer currently anchoring the midfield for Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina in the WE League. At 26 years old, Ogawa has established herself as a pivotal Central Defensive Midfielder (CDM), known for her defensive prowess and ability to disrupt opposition play. Over the course of 15 appearances in the current season, Ogawa has accumulated an impressive 1,302 minutes on the pitch, underscoring her importance to the team's core structure. While Ogawa's goalscoring metrics are modest, with an average of 0.07 goals per game and an xG of 0.05, her true impact lies in her defensive and playmaking capabilities.

A standout feature of Ogawa's play is her remarkable defensive acumen. She boasts an elite 6.42 possession-adjusted interceptions per game, positioning her as one of the league's premier defensive stalwarts. Although her possession-adjusted challenges per game stand at 5.3 with a notably low challenge success rate, indicating room for growth, Ogawa’s ability to read the game and intercept plays make her an invaluable asset in regaining possession. Furthermore, Ogawa contributes significantly to ball progression, with an average progressive passing distance of 258.34 meters per game. Her role as an "Anchor" in the team's midfield is further reinforced by her playmaker rank of 3.5, emphasizing her reliable presence in both initiating and disrupting play. While her estimated transfer value remains at €0, Ogawa's consistent performances ensure that she remains a cornerstone of Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina's midfield.