Daniel Schmidt (footballer)

Daniel Yuji Yabuki Schmidt (矢吹シュミット・ダニエル勇二) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Belgian Pro League club Gent. Born in the United States, he represents the Japan national team.

Early life
Born in the United States to a German father and Japanese mother, Schmidt moved to Sendai, Japan at the age of two. He attended Chuo University.

Style of play
Schmidt is known for his ability with long balls to forwards and his frequency of coming off his line in precise timing to deal with threats early. He is also credited as a good penalty saver.

Club career
Schmidt played three consecutive seasons as a Designated Special Player for Kawasaki Frontale while at the Chuo University, before entering the professional ranks in 2013.

He later signed for Vegalta Sendai, but Schmidt played his first pro match during a one-month loan to Roasso Kumamoto in April 2014. After playing his first ever game with Vegalta in J. League Cup, he was again loaned to Roasso, this time until the end of 2015 season. A third loan was established in 2016, this time to Matsumoto Yamaga.

On 18 July 2019, Schmidt joined Belgian side Sint-Truiden on a permanent deal.

On 4 February 2023, he made his 100th appearance in the Belgian Pro League against Kortrijk.

On 28 December 2023, Schmidt joined fellow Belgian club Gent on a permanent deal, signing a contract until June 2027.

International career
On 30 August 2018, Schmidt received his first international callup from the Japan national team for the Kirin Challenge Cup 2018. He made his debut appearance in a friendly match against Venezuela on 16 November 2018 and played his first competitive match for Japan on 17 January 2019 in the 2–1 win against Uzbekistan during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

In September 2022, he saved the team from a desperate pinch by stopping the penalty against Ecuador and was selected as MOM of the media. It was also the number one trend on Twitter.

In November 2022, he was selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup team for the first time.

On March 24, 2023, he participated in the full starting lineup in the first match of the second Moriyasu JAPAN against Uruguay. On September 12, in the match against Turkey, he showed stable saves even in defensive situations and contributed to the victory.

Honours
Vegalta Sendai Japan
 * Emperor's Cup runner-up: 2018


 * AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2019

Individual
 * Japan Pro-Footballers Association Best XI: 2022