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Shinji Kagawa (香川 真司, Kagawa Shinji?) (born 17 March 1989) is a Japanese footballer who plays for English club Manchester United and the Japanese national team. Kagawa began his professional career in his homeland with Cerezo Osaka before joining German club Borussia Dortmund in 2010. After two years in Germany, Kagawa signed for Manchester United on a four-year contract. A goal-scoring midfielder, he is known for his "vision, technique, movement and deft passing."[3]

Club careerKagawa started playing football at the age of five. He joined Marino Football Club from 1994 to 1999,[4] Kobe NK Football Club from 1999 to 2001, and FC Miyagi Barcelona in Sendai from 2001 to 2005.[5] Cerezo Osaka noticed his talent and signed him at the age of 17. He was the first player in Japan to sign a professional contract before graduating high school, except players promoted from youth teams of the J. League clubs.[6] In 2007, he gained a regular position but the club missed the promotion to the J. League Division 1.

By mid-2010, Kagawa was represented with a sports agency run by retired German professional footballer Thomas Kroth, which ultimately handled his transfer to Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund2010–11 season Kagawa celebrates winning the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2011In the summer of 2010, Kagawa transferred from Cerezo to Borussia Dortmund for €350,000. The relatively modest cost of the transfer was because of a release clause in Kagawa's contract with Cerezo, which allowed him to leave the club cheaply if he had an opportunity to play in Europe.[7]

On 23 August 2010, he made his debut appearance in the German Bundesliga, starting for his new club Borussia Dortmund. After scoring his first two competitive goals for the club in the UEFA Europa League qualifying tie against Qarabağ, he continued this form with his first goal in the Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg, which Dortmund won 2–0.[8] In the Revierderby against archrival Schalke 04, which Dortmund won 3–1, Kagawa said pre-match that he would score two goals, he then went on to score twice, making him one of the fans' favorites.[9]

Kagawa missed half of the Bundesliga season because of an injury he picked up on international duty, but managed to score eight goals in 18 appearances. His strong effort in the first half of the season helped his side finish as champions of the Bundesliga and he was even named in the Bundesliga Best XI.[10]

2011–12 seasonKagawa was back in time for the start of the 2011–12 Bundesliga campaign and quickly found his way back into the starting line-up. Kagawa scored his first goal of the new Bundesliga season on 18 September, coming in a disappointing 2–1 loss to Hannover 96, as Dortmund gave up two goals in the last three minutes.[11] On 22 October, Kagawa opened the scoring in the seventh minute as Dortmund crushed 1. FC Köln 5–0 in front of 80,200 home fans at the Signal Iduna Park.[12] Kagawa scored again on 5 November, as Dortmund brushed aside Wolfsburg 5–1 and moved within two points of league leaders Bayern Munich. Kagawa scored a late consolation against Arsenal in a 2–1 loss in the group stage of the Champions League.

On 28 January 2012, Kagawa scored twice in Dortmund's 3–1 win against Hoffenheim. Kagawa scored the only goal of the game against Werder Bremen on 17 March, heading in a pass from İlkay Gündoğan in the eighth minute.[13] Kagawa scored two goals in Dortmund's 6–1 thrashing of Cologne on 25 March, keeping Dortmund five points ahead of Bayern in the title race.[14] Kagawa won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2012 as Borussia Dortmund set a Bundesliga record scoring the most points in a season in the Bundesliga with 81 points. Kagawa also scored a goal and provided an assist for Borussia Dortmund, against rivals Bayern Munich in the 2012 DFB-Pokal Final.

Manchester UnitedOn 5 June 2012, it was announced by Manchester United that the club had reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund and Kagawa for his transfer,[15] a deal that made him the first Japanese player to join the club.[16] The transfer was completed on 22 June, after Kagawa passed his medical at Manchester United and received his UK work permit.[17] On 3 July, it was revealed that Kagawa would wear the number 26 shirt for Manchester United.[18] Kagawa spoke about his former club, Borussia Dortmund, saying, "I will carry this club, their great fans and the whole city in my heart forever and will follow their results with great interest".[19]

On 18 July 2012, Kagawa was handed a two-minute appearance to mark his Manchester United debut in Durban against AmaZulu in a pre-season friendly match.[20] Kagawa made his first start for the Red Devils against Ajax Cape Town on 21 July 2012,[21] and scored his first goal against Shanghai Shenhua four days later.[22]

International careerKagawa played as a member of the Japan national under-20 football team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada.[23]

In 2008, he was also selected to play as a member of the Japanese team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[24] On 24 May 2008, he made his senior international debut in a friendly Kirin Cup match. Japan won the match against Côte d'Ivoire 1–0. He was not selected in Takeshi Okada's final 23 squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In September 2010 he scored the only goal of the game in Japan's 1–0 win over Paraguay in Yokohama.[25] It took Kagawa five months to rehab his injury from the AFC Asia Cup. He returned in Dortmund's final game as a substitute in the 87th minute.

2011 AFC Asian CupHe was included in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup by coach Alberto Zaccheroni.[26] In the quarterfinals against Qatar, he scored two goals. The game ended 3–2, a win for Japan.[27] In the semi-final against South Korea, Kagawa broke his metatarsal bone[28] and missed the final where Japan beat Australia after extra-time.

Club:Cerezo Osaka (2006-10) :Borrusia Dortmund (2010-12) :Man Utd (2012-