Kensuke Nagai (永井 謙佑, Nagai Kensuke, born 5 March 1989) is a Japanese football player who plays as a striker for J1 League club Nagoya Grampus.

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Kensuke Nagai
永井 謙佑

Personal information
Full name	Kensuke Nagai
Date of birth	(1989-03-05) 5 March 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Nagoya Grampus
Number	18
Youth career
2004–2006	Kyushu International University High School
2006–2009	Fukuoka University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009	Avispa Fukuoka	5	(0)
2010	Vissel Kobe	3	(0)
2011–2012	Nagoya Grampus	57	(13)
2013–2014	Standard Liège	3	(0)
2013–2014	→ Nagoya Grampus (loan)	42	(12)
2015–2016	Nagoya Grampus	62	(17)
2017–2022	FC Tokyo	179	(21)
2022–	Nagoya Grampus	54	(10)
International career‡
2007–2008	Japan U-18	3	(1)
2008	Japan U-19	3	(4)
2009–2011	Japan U-20	5	(1)
2009–2012	Japan U-23	31	(13)
2010–2019	Japan	12	(3)
Medal record Nagoya Grampus Runner-up J1 League 2011 Representing  Japan Asian Games 2010 Guangzhou Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2019

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From the age of 3, Nagai spent 5 years in Ipatinga, Brazil, where he started playing street football with his childhood friends.^[1]

After he moved back from Brazil to Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, he played soccer at local elementary school and junior high school clubs,^[1] before he joined the Kyushu International University High School club, and played two matches at the 85th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.^{[citation needed]}

He joined Fukuoka University club in April 2007. Three months later, he played at the AJHSST, and won the 33rd Prime Minister's Cup All Japan College Soccer Tournament in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

While playing for the Fukuoka University Club, Nagai also played for Avispa Fukuoka in the J. League Division 2 in 2009 and Vissel Kobe in 2010 as a designated player for development by the league and JFA.^{[citation needed]}

On 23 December 2009, he was named in the squad for Japan's 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification against Yemen,^[2] and made his full international debut for the team in the fixture on 6 January 2010.^[3]

He was selected as a member of Japanese squad for 2012 Olympics.^[4]

He was transferred from Nagoya to Standard Liège of Belgian Pro League in January 2013, but transferred back to Nagoya on loan from August 2013 to June 2014, due to less playing opportunities given with Standard Liège. In January 2015, the loan deal was terminated as Nagai moved back to Nagoya on a permanent basis.