New Hoffenheim signing Kōki Machida is a full Japan international who previously played alongside Deniz Undav and holds a degree in human sciences. Here`s a look at his profile.
Player Profile: Kōki Machida
Age: 27 (born 25 August 1997)
Club: Hoffenheim
Position: Centre-back
Country: Japan (17 caps)
Key Stats
Machida joins Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga after three seasons at Union St. Gilloise, where he was part of the team that achieved a domestic treble (Belgian league, cup, supercup) in the 2024/25 season.
Before his time in Belgium, the left-footed defender played for his boyhood club, Kashima Antlers in Japan, making his senior debut in the J. League Cup in May 2016.
His career was interrupted by a cruciate ligament injury the following season, but he returned in 2017/18, playing 13 games and winning the AFC Champions League with Kashima.
He developed further, making 116 appearances for Kashima before Union St. Gilloise noticed him, initially signing him on loan in the 2021/22 season and making the transfer permanent in 2023.
At Union, he debuted alongside Deniz Undav (now at VfB Stuttgart and Germany) under the management of Alexander Blessin (now St. Pauli coach).
His strong performances in Belgium earned him his first senior cap for Japan in a friendly in September 2023.
Plays a bit like: Robin Koch
Both Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Machida share similar physical attributes and comfort on the ball. Machida`s ability to step out of defense and contribute to build-up play is comparable to the Germany international, even allowing him to play as a defensive midfielder at times.
Defensively, both players show excellent positional awareness and game reading, often seeming to be in the right spot.
Did You Know?
Machida isn`t just physically strong (6`3″ / 1.90m); he`s also academically inclined. In 2016, he enrolled in an online degree program in Human Sciences at Waseda University, balancing his studies with playing professionally for Kashima Antlers.
What They`re Saying
Alessio Castro-Montes, his former teammate at Union St. Gilloise, described him as “one of the best defenders in the league” possessing “all the qualities of a modern defender.”
Andreas Schicker, Hoffenheim`s managing director of sport, praised Machida as a “no-nonsense defender” who is “very strong in the air” with “good vision and a precise passing game”, stating his belief that Koki`s presence will bring desired stability.
Machida himself commented on the move, saying, “For me, the move to Hoffenheim and the Bundesliga is the next step in my career… I’ll definitely give everything I’ve got to help the team be successful.”
