Active in J1 League

Dion-Johan Cools

Defender #27
Age 29 years
Nationality Malaysia
Market Value €1M

Career

No transfer history

Dion-Johan Cools has established himself as Cerezo Osaka's Bronze Wall. Having arrived from Buriram United to test his mettle in Japan, the thirty-year-old is building a robust body of work in the backline. He provides the kind of hybrid defensive engine profile that allows his more attacking teammates to push forward with complete confidence. His vast experience across multiple leagues has forged a defender who rarely panics under pressure.

Across nine appearances and 649 minutes of football, his disruptive capabilities are the clear headline. A towering Defense dimension tells the story of a player who reads the play before it fully develops, anticipating passes and shutting down passing lanes. Certified as a gold-tier INTERCEPTOR, his knack for stepping in to break up possession is elite—registering over two interceptions and three tackles per ninety minutes. He rarely allows attackers a moment's peace. Throughout the campaign, he is maintaining a consistent level, offering a picture of absolute reliability when deployed to protect the penalty area and smother dangerous counter-attacks.

While his market valuation sits at a modest €1M on a downward trend, his actual on-pitch utility remains completely undeniable. He provides an essential insurance policy during high-stakes crunch matches where defensive solidity is the ultimate currency, proving that tactical intelligence often outweighs a heavy price tag.

Player Rating

Dion-Johan Chai Cools
92
Rating
100
hot streak
Form
⚡ Skills 78
🎯 Clutch 53
🎨 Style 70
📊 Ability 67
💰 Fair Value
🎚️ ●○○
Defender

Archetypes earned from what we've seen this season.

Scout Report

Our breakdown of how this player plays, built from this season's match data.

Dion-Johan Chai Cools is a exceptional INTERCEPTOR for Cerezo Osaka. Evidence: 2.2 Interceptions/90.

Player DNA

Are they a specialist or an all-rounder? The shape tells the story.

A specialist who excels in Defense (81/100) but has room to grow in Shooting.

Dion-Johan Chai Cools Traits

Percentile rankings show how a player compares to others. 90% means they rank higher than 90% of comparable players.

vs Defenders

Height 79%
Weight 70%
Experience 59%

vs J1 League

Height 82%
Weight 75%
Experience 59%

Traits

PRIME

Player DNA

Five dimensions that show what kind of player they are

Dribbling: 38 - Ability to beat defenders with close control and skill moves Shooting: 22 - Clinical finishing, shot accuracy, and conversion rate Defense: 81 - Winning duels, tackles, interceptions, and blocks Workrate: 81 - Engine and intensity - total duels and physical commitment Passing: 24 - Vision, key passes, and ability to create chances
Dribbling
Shooting
Defense
Workrate
Passing
Dribbling 38
Shooting 22
Defense 81
Workrate 81
Passing 24
Key Strength 81 Defense
Area to Watch 22 Shooting

Match Stats

Match-by-match record for Dion-Johan Chai Cools this season

Date Fixture League Mins Rating G A FM Score Venue
May 24, 2026 Fagiano Okayama 2-3 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 93' 6.9 - 1 100 City Light Stadium
May 17, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 6-1 Nagoya Grampus J1 League 92' 6.3 - - 93 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
May 09, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 3-2 V-varen Nagasaki J1 League 100' 7.3 - - 95 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
May 06, 2026 Shimizu S-pulse 1-1 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 66' 6.9 - - 51 IAI Stadium Nihondaira
May 03, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Avispa Fukuoka J1 League 33' 6.6 - - 70 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Apr 29, 2026 Vissel Kobe 0-0 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 95' 7.3 - - 17 Noevir Stadium
Apr 25, 2026 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 23' 5.3 - - 70 Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima
Apr 18, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 3-0 Kyoto Sanga J1 League 0' - 0 0 40 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Apr 11, 2026 Gamba Osaka 0-1 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 28' 7.2 0 0 83 Panasonic Stadium Suita
Apr 04, 2026 Nagoya Grampus 3-0 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 13' 6.6 0 0 41 Toyota Stadium
Mar 22, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Vissel Kobe J1 League 15' 7.5 - 0 36 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Mar 18, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Fagiano Okayama J1 League 90' 6.5 0 0 48 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Mar 14, 2026 Kyoto Sanga 1-2 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 90' 6.3 0 0 67 Sanga Stadium by Kyocera
Mar 07, 2026 Cerezo Osaka 0-0 Shimizu S-pulse J1 League 90' 8.6 - 0 26 Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Feb 28, 2026 V-varen Nagasaki 1-0 Cerezo Osaka J1 League 81' 6.0 0 0 40 Peace Stadium

Player Market Value

Track Dion-Johan Chai Cools's transfer value changes and career value history

Current Value €800K
Peak Value €3.0M (Q1'18)
€3.0M €1.5M €0
Q3'14 Q1'15 Q2'15 Q4'15 Q1'16 Q3'16 Q1'17 Q2'17 Q1'18 Q2'18 Q4'18 Q2'19 Q4'19 Q2'20 Q3'20 Q4'20 Q2'21 Q4'21 Q2'22 Q4'22 Q3'23 Q1'24 Q3'24 Q2'25 Q4'25