Kenji Cabrera

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Kenji Cabrera
Personal information
Full name Kenji Giovanni Cabrera Nakamura [1]
Date of birth (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth Shiga, Japan [1]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) [1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, left winger
Team information
Current team
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 17
Youth career
Esther Grande
Alianza Lima
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021–2025 FBC Melgar 98 (13)
2025– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (0)
International career
2022–2023 Peru U20 14 (0)
2025– Peru 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 5, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:14, 9 September 2025 (UTC)

Kenji Giovanni Cabrera Nakamura (born 27 January 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Born in Japan, he represents the Peru national team.

Contents

Club career

Born in Shiga, Japan, Cabrera started his career with Esther Grande, before a short spell in the Alianza Lima academy. [2] He joined FBC Melgar in 2021, immediately being promoted to the first team, making his debut the same year. [2]

In July 2025, Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had signed Cabrera to a deal through 2028, with an option for 2029. [3] He made his debut for his new club on August 13 against Forge FC in the semi-finals of the 2025 Canadian Championship. [4]

International career

Cabrera was born in Japan to a Peruvian father and Japanese mother, and moved to Peru at a young age. He holds dual-citizenship. [5] He has represented Peru at under-20 level. [1]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 August 2025. [6]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FBC Melgar 2021 Peruvian Primera División 4000000040
2022 201008 [a] 000281
2023 302005 [b] 000352
2024 284001 [b] 000294
2025 1660010 [c] 300269
Total9813002430012216
Vancouver Whitecaps 2025 Major League Soccer 2000001 [d] 030
Career total10013002431012516
Notes
  1. Appearances in the Copa Sudamericana
  2. 1 2 Appearances in the Copa Libertadores
  3. Four appearances and one goal in Copa Libertadores, six appearances and two goals in Copa Sudamericana
  4. Appearances in Canadian Championship

International

As of match played 9 September 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Peru 202520
Total20

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kenji Cabrera at WorldFootball.net
  2. 1 2 Zanatta, Diego (14 August 2022). "¿Quién es Kenji Cabrera, futbolista nacido en Japón que es sensación en Melgar?" [Who is Kenji Cabrera, a soccer player born in Japan who is a sensation in Melgar?]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  3. "Whitecaps FC acquire U22 Initiative midfielder Kenji Cabrera from FBC Melgar". 22 July 2025.
  4. "Blackmon and White score; Cabrera makes his debut". 13 August 2025.
  5. "Kenji Cabrera habló sobre su golazo de tiro libre con Melgar: "Lo sorprendí a Ángelo"". 30 April 2024.
  6. Kenji Cabrera at Soccerway