Hideki Ishige

DOB 21/9/94

Hideki Ishige joined the Wellington Phoenix in September 2024 from J1 League side Gamba Osaka.

The Japanese forward has played almost 300 professional matches in Japan, more than half of which have been in the J1 League.

Ishige is also a former Japanese age-group international and was crowned the AFC men’s youth player of the year in 2011 after starring at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico, where he scored the first two goals and set-up the third in a 6-0 win over New Zealand.

He made his professional debut for his hometown club Shimizu S-Pulse in 2012 after coming through their age-group teams.

Ishige spent five seasons at S-Pulse before being loaned to Fagiano Okayama for the 2017 season.

He returned to his hometown club the following year and spent a further three and a half seasons and Shimizu before rejoining Fagiano Okayama for a six-month loan in 2021.

Ishige signed with Gamba Osaka at the start of 2022.

> 2023-24 season

Hideki Ishige made 29 appearances for Gamba Osaka in 2023 across the J1 League, J League Cup and Emperor’s Cup, scoring four goals and creating three others.

Ishige was limited to just four appearances for Gamba in 2024 due to injuries and secured an early release from his contract to join the Phoenix.

He is excited to be joining the Wellington Phoenix and is looking forward to testing himself in the A-League.

“I want to say thank you to everyone at Wellington Phoenix for accepting me.

“From now on I will devote everything I have to the team and do my best so that we can win the championship.”