Izumi Arata

Arata Izumi is an Japanese born Indian footballer who plays as a strikerand attacking midfielder for Pune F.C. in the I-League. In 2005 Izumi recorded the start of his professional football career with Albirex Niigata Singapore of the S.League. He scored his first professional goal of his career against Tampines Rovers FC in the S.League on 18 September 2005. In 2006 after a successful season with Albirex Niigata Singapore in which the team finished 5th in the S.League, Arata moved back to Japan and signed for Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. of the Japan Football League. In November 2006 Izumi signed for East Bengal F.C. of the National Football League. In 2007 Izumi signed for Mahindra United of the I-League which was the league replacing the old National Football League. In 2009 Izumi signed for newly promoted I-League side Pune FC. Izumi has called his move to Pune as the turning point of his career. In 2010 he finished the season with a career high 10 goals and 10 assists in 26 games. He was the top goalscorer among all midfielders and his profile was also nominated as the best midfielder in the I-League by goal.com. Izumi also won the Pune FC Man of Steel award from the club that season. On 22 October 2011 Izumi made his 50th appearance for the club in I-League in the opening match of the 2011–12 season against Shillong Lajong.