1189 Yu Hirakawa

Biography

Versatile attacking wideman and Japanese international Yu Hirakawa joined Hull City in January 2026 on a half season loan from Championship rivals Bristol City. Introduced from the bench shortly after half time for his debut at Preston North End, Yu’s first contribution saw him tee up striker Oli McBurnie for a thrilling bicycle kick goal and become an instant fans’ favourite. He continued to impress with his hard working attitude and penetrating dribbles, until a tangle with fellow Japanese player Koki Saito in a February 2026 match against Queens Park Rangers saw Hirakawa suffer an ankle injury that required treatment at his parent club Bristol City. Yu agreed to delay a planned operation on his ankle and returned to first team action in April 2026, with the player hoping to spark a play-off campaign and win a place in Japan’s 2026 World Cup finals squad.

Yu Hirakawa was born in Kashima, a modest city in the Saga Province on Kyushu, the southernmost large island in Japan. He played junior football in his local area and from 2019 attended university in Kofu, a town 35 miles west of Tokyo, turning out for the Yamanshi Gakuin University football team.

In September 2021 Hirakawa was permitted to join Japanese Division Two side Machida Zelvia while completing his studies. he made his first team debut in December 2021 against Albirex Niigata and scored his first senior goal in March 2022 against Fagiano Okayama. In the 2023 J2 League season Yu became a first team regular, playing on either wing and scoring eight goals as Zelvia dominated the division and won the League title in November 2023. Now promoted to the Japan’s top flight, the J1 League, Yu continued his progession before missing a month of League matches in April 2024 due to his participation in the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup. He made his final appearances for Machida Zelvia in July 2024 against Nagoya Grampus, which took his tally for the club to twelve goals in 73 appearances.

In July 2024 Hirakawa joined Championship side Bristol City on a season long loan. An ankle injury sustained during the 2024 Olympic Games sidelined Yu until the end of August 2024 when he made his debut in English football against Derby County. His first goal for the Robins came in October 2024 against Middlesbrough and as the season wore on he became an important part of the Bristol City first team squad the qualified for the play-offs only to lose in the semi-final to Sheffield United – Yu played in both legs. In February 2025 his loan to Bristol City was made into a permanent transfer after a fee of around £1 million was paid. With the Robins under new management at the start of the 2025/26 season, Yu struggled to establish a first eleven shirt and was used regularly as a substitute. In January 2026 he played his last game for Bristol City against Oxford United, taking his tally to four goals in 66 appearances. He joined Hull City on loan a few days later.

In July 2023 Hirakawa received his first international call-up, making two appearances for Japan’s Under-22 side against England Under-21 and Netherlands Under-21. In September 2023 he was elevated to Japan Under-23, debuting against Palestine and playing in all six matches during April 2024 as Japan lifted to AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, beating Uzbekistan in the final of a tournament played in Qatar. Winning this tournament qualified Japan for the 2024 Olympic Games football tournament played during July and August 2024 in France, Yu was part of the Japan squad and started the first game against Paraguay before sustaining an ankle injury that sidelined him for the rest of the tournament.

In June 2025 Hirakawa received his first call-up to the Japan senior side and made his debut in Adelaide in a friendly against Australia, his only cap to date.

Details

Nationality: Japan
Date/Place of Birth: 3 January 2001, Kashima (Japan)
Hull City First Game: 20 January 2026, Preston North End A (Championship), 25 years, 17 days old
Hull City Final Game: [current player]

Clubs

Machida Zelvia (2021-2025), Bristol City (2024-2025, loan), Bristol City (2025-current), Hull City (2026, loan)

Hull City Record

Career: 8 apps, 0 goals