Daichi Kamada at FIFA World Cup 2026
Crystal Palace
Primary
Attacking Midfielder
Others
Central Midfielder, Second Striker
Daichi Kamada gives Japan one of their most intelligent central attackers in the 2026 cycle because he can connect midfield and attack without slowing the game down.
The Crystal Palace midfielder arrives with big-match European experience, a growing Premier League role, and a strong international record that keeps him important for Japan's World Cup plans.
Quick Answer
Daichi Kamada is a 29-year-old Japan midfielder for Crystal Palace.
He is primarily used as a attacking midfielder, with cover across central midfielder, second striker.
His current club contract runs through June 2026.
His reported weekly salary is £105,000 (est.), and his estimated net worth is Financial analysis pending.
Team Overview
Kamada matters because Japan need midfielders who can find space early, support the press, and still give the front line calm final-third decisions.
He helps the team play with more structure between the lines instead of relying only on wide speed and transition moments.
Early Life and Background
Kamada was born in Iyo, Ehime, and started at Kids FC before joining Gamba Osaka's youth system, where injuries interrupted his path and forced him to rebuild through school football.
That detour became important because Higashiyama High School gave him the freedom to develop as a creative attacking midfielder and earn his professional move to Sagan Tosu.
Daichi Kamada Personal Info and Profile
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Daichi Kamada |
| Date of birth | 5 August 1996 |
| Age | 29 |
| Nationality | Japan |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | Professional monitoring |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | Crystal Palace |
| Contract end | June 2026 |
| Transfer value | €12M |
| Jersey number | 18 |
| Weekly salary | £105,000 (est.) |
| Estimated net worth | Financial analysis pending |
Daichi Kamada Club Career
Sagan Tosu gave Kamada his senior breakthrough, and his calm finishing plus final-ball quality quickly made him one of the more watched young creators in Japan.
Eintracht Frankfurt then signed him in 2017, and after a huge loan season at Sint-Truiden, he returned to Germany to become a major part of the side that won the Europa League in 2022.
Crystal Palace signed Kamada on a free transfer in July 2024, reuniting him with Oliver Glasner on a two-year deal that runs through June 2026.
By March 2026 he had reached 54 Premier League appearances for Palace, and his first season ended with FA Cup success, the club's first major trophy.
That matters for Japan because he now arrives from a tougher weekly environment and with a clearer physical and tactical base than earlier in his career.
Daichi Kamada - Stats and Performance
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-2017 | Sagan Tosu | League play | 65 | 13 |
| 2015 | J.League U-22 | League play | 3 | 0 |
| 2017-2023 | Eintracht Frankfurt | League play | 127 | 20 |
| 2018-2019 | Sint-Truiden | League play | 34 | 15 |
| 2023-2024 | Lazio | League play | 29 | 2 |
| 2024-26 | Crystal Palace | League play | 54 | 0 |
| Career Total | League play | 312 | 50 |
Kamada's value comes less from raw volume and more from how cleanly he links phases of play before the decisive action happens.
International Career
Kamada made his senior Japan debut in 2019 and has now reached 49 caps with 12 goals, giving him one of the deeper recent international records in the squad.
He was part of the 2022 World Cup group and remains a trusted central option because he can start as a ten, drop into midfield, or support a front two.
| National team | Caps | Goals | Tournament involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan U21 | 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| Japan U23 | 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| Japan | 2019– | 49 | 12 |
Honours and Trophies
Transfer News and Market Value
The key 2026 Kamada storyline is contract timing more than transfer noise, because his Crystal Palace deal now runs into its final months.
That creates outside interest, but his real value to Japan still comes from his form, tactical fit, and high-level experience rather than speculation alone.
Daichi Kamada Salary and Net Worth
Capology lists Daichi Kamada at an estimated £105,000 gross per week at Crystal Palace, which works out to roughly £5.46 million gross per year, but those figures should still be treated as estimates rather than club-confirmed payroll reporting.
The firmer public markers are his Crystal Palace contract through June 2026, his free transfer from Lazio in July 2024, and his current €12M market value in the 2026 cycle.
Daichi Kamada 2026 Style, Strengths, and Tournament Outlook
Kamada's biggest tournament strength is flexibility because he can help Japan in possession-heavy matches and in tighter games that need second-line running.
The challenge is maintaining his influence when the game becomes more physical and the space between midfield and defence disappears quickly.
Even so, he remains one of the most trusted central attacking options in Japan's 2026 squad.
