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Issey Nakajima-Farran
Nakajima-Farran in 2019
Personal information
Full name Issey Morgan Nakajima-Farran
Date of birth (1984-05-16) 16 May 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 1.78 m
Playing position Forward
Youth career
1993–1994 Verdy Kawasaki
1995–1997 Crystal Palace
2000–2002 Tokyo Verdy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Albirex Niigata 0 (0)
2004–2006 Albirex Niigata (S) 45 (26)
2006–2007 Vejle 44 (16)
2007–2009 Nordsjælland 46 (13)
2009–2011 Horsens 55 (11)
2011–2012 Brisbane Roar 23 (4)
2012–2013 AEK Larnaca 10 (1)
2013–2014 Alki Larnaca (loan) 15 (3)
2014 Toronto FC 5 (2)
2014 Montreal Impact 13 (0)
2015 Suburense 2 (2)
2015–2017 Terengganu 61 (32)
2018 Pahang 10 (6)
2019 Pacific FC 17 (1)
2021 UE Tàrrega 12 (3)
2021–2023 CF Cubelles 39 (24)
Total 397 (144)
National team
2005 Singapore U21 1 (2)
2006–2016 Canada 38 (1)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 April 2023.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 March 2019

Issey Morgan Nakajima-Farran (born 16 May 1984) is a Canadian former professional soccer player.

Club career

Youth

Born to a Japanese mother and an English-Zimbabwean father, Nakajima-Farran moved with his family from Canada to Tokyo when he was three. His football career began while playing for the junior youth team of Verdy Kawasaki. He later moved to England at the age of ten to play for Crystal Palace's youth team but returned to Japan when he was 16 to pursue a youth contract with Tokyo Verdy. In 2003, he began his professional football career after having signed with J2 League's Albirex Niigata.

Albirex Niigata (S)

In 2004, Nakajima-Farran was transferred to the Albirex Niigata's Singaporean satellite club in the S.League. Upon two successful seasons with Albirex Niigata Singapore FC, scoring 26 goals in 45 appearances, he was awarded the S.League Young Player of the Year in 2005, and also was invited to play a game for the U-21 side of Singapore national under-21 football team.

Vejle

In the winter transfer window of 2006, Nakajima-Farran had trials with English sides Millwall and Portsmouth, however was signed by Danish First Division team Vejle Boldklub on a 2-year deal. He helped Vejle BK win the championship and gain promotion to the top league in the Danish football system, the Superliga, by netting 7 goals in 13 games.

Nordsjælland

Following a strong performance in his first season in the top flight, he was bought by Danish Superliga side, FC Nordsjælland on a 4-year contract in June 2007. Upon his debut for his new club, he guided FCN to their first victory over Denmark's most successful club, FC København by scoring the only goal of the game in injury time. He went on to score many important goals for FCN, as well as making appearances in the qualifying campaign and the first round of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup. During the summer transfer window of 2009, Nakajima-Frarran went on a trial with Eredivisie team De Graafschap, but joined Danish First Division side, AC Horsens on a 3-year deal. He helped Horsens win the championship and gain promotion to the Superliga for the 2010–11 season. In August 2011, Nakajima-Farran was released from AC Horsens after having mutually agreed with the team to terminate the remainder of the contract.

Brisbane Roar

On 30 August 2011, it was announced he had signed a one-year contract with A-League club Brisbane Roar FC. Nakajima-Farran made his debut for the Roar on 11 September 2011 in a pre-season friendly at Launceston. He scored his first goal and set up another for Brisbane in a 7–1 thrashing of Adelaide United FC in round 4. In round 8, Issey was awarded "Man of the Match" after netting two goals in a 4–0 victory over Perth Glory FC, and helping the Roar set a new Australian sports team record of 36 unbeaten games.

AEK Larnaca

During the summer transfer window of 2012, Nakajima-Farran signed a two-year deal with Cypriot First Division side, AEK Larnaca FC. Issey netted his first goal in the Cypriot league on 22 October in a 3–0 routing of Ayia Napa FC. In January 2013, Issey was loaned out to Alki Larnaca FC until the end of the 2012–13 season. During Round 26, Nakajima-Farran helped Alki Larnaca squeeze past Ethnikos Achna FC 6–5, by scoring a goal in the 54th minute, and setting up another two minutes later.

Toronto FC

On 24 January 2014, Nakajima-Farran began a trial with Canadian club Toronto FC of Major League Soccer. On 28 March 2014, Farran signed a deal with Toronto after several weeks of speculation. The following day he made his debut as a second half sub for Bradley Orr in a 3–0 away defeat to Real Salt Lake. He scored his first goal for Toronto the following week on 5 April against the Columbus Crew, the game ended in a 2–0 away victory.

Montreal Impact

On 16 May 2014, Nakajima-Farran was traded to the Montreal Impact for Collen Warner, the trade also included some allocation money. At the end of the season, he was waived by Montreal.

Suburense

Following his release from MLS, Nakajima-Farran trained and played with amateur CF Suburense in the Segona Catalana, the sixth tier of the Spanish football league system to stay fit and be close to his family.

Terengganu

Nakajima-Farran signed with Malaysia Super League club Terengganu on 1 April 2015.

After a disastrous 2016 campaign which saw Terengganu relegated to the second tier, Issey chose to stay and help the team gain promotion. He proved his words by helping them to finish 2nd in the Malaysia Premier League, ensuring their return to the Super League. On 1 November 2017, Nakajima-Farran announced that he had departed the club by mutual consent.

Pahang

Nakajima-Farran joined Pahang in April 2018.

Pacific FC

Nakajima-Farran signed with Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC ahead of their inaugural season on 5 March 2019. He scored his first goal for Pacific on 1 July, off a free-kick against Cavalry FC.

CCB LFC United

Vancouver Metro Soccer League club CCB LFC United announced they had signed Nakajima-Farran on 18 January 2020.

UE Tàrrega

In March 2021, he signed in the Spanish fifth tier with UE Tàrrega.

International career

He made his senior international debut for Canada in November 2006 for friendly match against Hungary. As of November 2013 he has earned a total of 30 caps, scoring 1 goal, represented Canada during the 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and also in four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

Career statistics

Club

Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nordsjælland 2008–09 Danish Superliga 16 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 19 1
Horsens 2010–11 Danish Superliga 28 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 4
2011–12 Danish Superliga 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Total 31 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 5
Brisbane Roar 2011–12 A-League 23 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 4
AEK 2012–13 Cypriot First Division 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Alki (loan) 2012–13 Cypriot First Division 15 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 17 3
Toronto FC 2014 Major League Soccer 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 2
Montreal Impact 2014 Major League Soccer 13 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 15 0
Terengganu 2015 Malaysia Super League 12 9 2 1 5 3 19 13
2016 Malaysia Super League 18 7 0 0 0 0 18 7
2017 Malaysia Super League 18 8 5 1 3 2 26 11
Total 48 24 7 2 8 5 0 0 63 31
Pahang 2018 Malaysia Super League 10 6 2 0 0 0 12 6
Pacific FC 2019 Canadian Premier League 17 1 2 0 0 0 19 1
Career total 188 47 14 2 8 5 5 0 216 54
A.  Includes appearances in the UEFA Cup and CONCACAF Champions League.

International

Canada
Year Apps Goals
2006 1 0
2007 7 0
2008 7 1
2009 3 0
2010 4 0
2011 1 0
2013 7 0
2014 3 0
2015 4 0
2016 1 0
Total 38 1

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 20 June 2008 Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0–1 0–3 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Personal life

Nakajima-Farran is Japan passport holder. His parents were born in two other countries, as his father is from Zimbabwe (of English descent) and his mother is from Japan. His brother Paris, was also a professional footballer who represented Canada at U-20 level and played as a defender for clubs in Japan, Denmark, Hong Kong and Spain. Other than playing football, Nakajima-Farran is an artist.

Honours

Albirex Niigata

Vejle Boldklub

  • Danish First Division: 2005–06

AC Horsens

  • Danish First Division: 2009–10

Brisbane Roar

  • A-League: 2011–12

Montreal Impact

  • Canadian Championship: 2014

Individual

  • Singapore Young Player of the Year: 2005
  • PFAM Player of the Month: August 2015, October 2015

See also

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