One to Watch: Ado Onaiwu, Auxerre's target man from Japan

While many eyes in Ligue 1 focus on Japanese internationals like Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Junya Ito, and Keito Nakamura (both at Reims), Ado Onaiwu has quietly carved his own path — and now, in his third season in France, he might just be ready for a breakout moment.

Having joined AJ Auxerre in 2022 after a promotion-winning stint with Toulouse, Onaiwu has become a trusted rotational striker, playing in 28 games for l'AJA and scoring four times this season, despite only starting 26% of games.

Ado Onaiwu’s career path hasn’t followed the fast-tracked route of Europe’s typical exports. While some players cross continents in their teens, Onaiwu waited until 25 — an age by which many forwards have already peaked — before making his move from Japan to France.

“I wasn’t that young anymore. I had to take my chance,” he recently told L’Yonne Républicaine. “Toulouse came with a project that made sense.”

After making his name with Yokohama F. Marinos and earning international caps for Japan, Onaiwu’s decision to join Toulouse FC in 2021 was both strategic and personal. He was seeking a sustainable European opportunity, and found one in a club on the rise in Ligue 2 BKT.

The Toulouse Launchpad

His first season at TFC was a resounding success. Onaiwu played a vital role in the club’s promotion to Ligue 1, contributing goals and bringing consistency to the attack. But his defining memory from Toulouse wasn’t the promotion—it was the Coupe de France. “The Cup was special,” he recalled. “I can’t describe the feeling, but I was so proud of the team.” 

Despite the highs, the transition to Ligue 1 McDonald's proved challenging. Competing for minutes against a younger, faster frontline in Toulouse’s evolving system, Onaiwu eventually sought a new environment. In 2022, he signed with Auxerre. 

Settling in Burgundy

Now in his third season in France, the Japanese striker is fully integrated into life in Auxerre. While he isn’t a regular starter in Ligue 1 - he's had an impact off the bench this season. Last weekend against Lens, the Japanese striker doubled his season's tally with a brace in what was a rare start for Onaiwu. 

Positioned on the left, he provided an excellant chip to open the scoring before sealing his brace before half-time with a deflected strike off a Lens defender. 

WATCH: onaiwu brace helps seal big win over Lens for Auxerre

But the bigger victory has come off the pitch.“My wife and children are here. They’re going to school in France. They speak better French than I do,” he says with a laugh. “But I’m learning — I understand more and more.”

Ado Onaiwu is now part of a growing contingent of Japanese talent in Ligue 1. The technical and tactical intelligence of players like Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura (Reims) has made France a welcoming stage for Japanese exports.

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