Junichi Inamoto
nationalyears = 2000- | nationalteam = Japan | nationalcaps(goals) = 65 (4) | pcupdate = 15:51 August 9 (GMT) | ntupdate = 23 June 2006
is a Japanese association football player who plays in midfield for West Bromwich Albion.
Inamoto played for Japanese club Gamba Osaka during his last year of high school, signing with the club in 1998. He was then one of many high profile transfers of Asian players to Europe, signing with Arsenal of the FA Premier League, though he failed to break into the first team, only ever appearing in the Carling Cup. Inamoto scored two goals for the Japanese National Team at the 2002 World Cup, but was released by Arsenal shortly after. He was then signed by Fulham on a long-term loan deal from Gamba Osaka. Initially he settled well at the London club, garnering good notices as a tough-tackling midfielder with an eye for a spectacular goal. However, he sustained a fractured tibia in an international friendly against England, and returned to Gamba Osaka to do promotional work. Fulham were interested in signing him once more, but concerns remained over his recovery from injury.
Inamoto ended up signing with West Bromwich Albion for a decidedly small £200,000 transfer fee, which was only to be paid once he had made an appearance for the Midlands club. However, Gary Megson departed as West Bromwich Albion manager shortly afterwards, and successor Bryan Robson was unsure of the Japanese's talent. Inamoto was loaned to Cardiff City F.C. for the latter part of the 2004-05 season, and impressed, being recalled to play a role in WBA's survival campaign in the Premiership. In 2005-06 he was a regular in the West Brom side, and was called up to the Japan squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the first Albion player to play in the tournament for 20 years.*Cardiff City F.C. (2005 loan)
*West Bromwich Albion F.C. (2004-)
*Fulham F.C. (2002-2003)
*Arsenal F.C. (2001-2002)
*Gamba Osaka (1998-2002)
*Seiei Gakuen S.C.*FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 1999*Profile at West Bromwich Albion's official site
*Statistics at soccerbase.com
*Inamoto: The ups and downs
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