Naoto Arai

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Naoto Arai
新井直人

| fullname = Naoto Arai

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|7|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

| height = 1.73 m

| position = Right-back

| currentclub = Sanfrecce Hiroshima

| clubnumber = 13

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Kitazawa Kickers

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = FC Shibuya

| youthyears3 = 2012–2014

| youthclubs3 = Jissen Gakuen High School

| collegeyears1 = 2015–2018

| college1 = Niigata University of Management

| years1 = 2019–2021 | clubs1 = Albirex Niigata | caps1 = 57 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2021–2023 | clubs2 = Cerezo Osaka | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022−2023 | clubs3 = → Tokushima Vortis (loan) | caps3 = 38 | goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2023–2024 | clubs4 = Albirex Niigata | caps4 = 27 | goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2024– | clubs5 = Sanfrecce Hiroshima | caps5 = 39 | goals5 = 7

| club-update = 15:51, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

}}

{{Nihongo|Naoto Arai|新井直人|Arai Naoto|born 7 October 1996}} is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right-back for {{Japanese football updater|SanfrecH}} club Sanfrecce Hiroshima.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefinalball.com/player.php?id=703642|title=Naoto Arai :: Naoto Arai :: Cerezo Osaka}}

Arai has spent most of his career playing in the J1 League and the J2 League, mainly for Albirex Niigata. He has also spent time at Cerezo Osaka, Tokushima Vortis and Sanfreece Hiroshima.

Career

On 9 February 2019, Arai was announced at Albirex Niigata, after joining from the Niigata University of Management.{{cite web|url=https://www.albirex.co.jp/news/57117/|title=新井直人選手（新潟経営大学）新加入内定のお知らせ|trans-title=Announcement of new signing of Naoto Arai (Niigata University of Management)|language=Japanese|website=www.albirex.co.jp}} He made his debut against Kyoto Sanga on 24 February 2019, playing the full 90 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/02/24/japan/j2-league/kyoto-sanga/albirex-niigata/2972282/|title = Kyoto Sanga vs Albirex Niigata - 24 February 2019|website=int.soccerway.com}} Arai scored his first professional goal against JEF United Chiba on 3 March 2019, scoring in the 90th+5th minute.{{cite web|url=https://web.gekisaka.jp/news/jleague/detail/?267727-267727-fl|title=特大のインパクト残した大卒ルーキー!! 2戦連続フル出場の新潟DF新井直人、「頭が真っ白になった」プロ初ゴール|trans-title=A university graduate rookie who made a huge impact! Niigata DF Naoto Arai, who played the full 90 minutes for the second consecutive game, "My mind went blank" after scoring his first professional goal|language=Japanese|website=web.gekisaka.jp}} After playing the required 900 minutes, Arai's contract was changed from a Professional C contract to a Professional A contract on 13 June 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.albirex.co.jp/news/57611/|title=新井直人選手プロＡ契約締結のお知らせ|trans-title=Naoto Arai signs a professional A contract|language=Japanese|website=www.albirex.co.jp}}

On 21 December 2020, Arai was announced at Cerezo Osaka on a permanent transfer. He played in 57 league matches for Albirex Niigata.{{cite web|url=https://www.albirex.co.jp/news/60198/|title=新井直人選手セレッソ大阪に完全移籍のお知らせ|trans-title=Naoto Arai transfers to Cerezo Osaka|language=Japanese|website=www.albirex.co.jp}}

On 7 January 2022, Arai was announced at Tokushima Vortis on a one year loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.vortis.jp/news/6794/|title=新井直人選手期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ|trans-title=Naoto Arai joins the team on loan|language=Japanese|website=www.vortis.jp}} On 2 December 2022, Arai's loan with Tokushima Vortis expired. He played in 38 games and scored 2 goals for the club during his time there.{{cite web|url=https://www.vortis.jp/news/6446/|title=新井直人選手期限付き移籍期間満了のお知らせ|trans-title=Announcement of the expiration of the loan period for Naoto Arai|language=Japanese|website=www.vortis.jp}}

On 2 December 2022, Arai returned to Albirex Niigata on a permanent transfer.{{cite web|url=https://www.albirex.co.jp/news/63563/|title=セレッソ大阪から新井直人選手完全移籍加入のお知らせ|trans-title=Announcement of permanent transfer of Naoto Arai from Cerezo Osaka|language=Japanese|website=www.albirex.co.jp}}

On 21 March 2024, Arai was announced at Sanfreece Hiroshima on a permanent transfer.{{cite web|url=https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/team/9663?ref=top_news_all_1|title=新井直人選手アルビレックス新潟より完全移籍加入のお知らせ|trans-title=Naoto Arai joins the team on a permanent transfer from Albirex Niigata|language=Japanese|website=www.sanfreece.co.jp}} He scored his first career hattrick, scoring against Kyoto Sanga on 19 May 2024.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/19/japan/j1-league/kyoto-sanga/sanfrecce-hiroshima/4309741/|title=Kyoto Sanga vs Sanfreece Hiroshima - 19 May 2024|website=int.soccerway.com}}

During his time at Sanfreece Hiroshima, Arai won the 2025 Japanese Super Cup. He was substituted on in the 89th minute for Shuto Nakano.{{cite web|url=https://www.jleague.co/match/ffsc/2025020801/#overview|title=Vissel Kobe vs Sanfreece Hiroshima - 8 February 2025|website=www.jleague.co}}