# Kenji Cabrera > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenji_Cabrera > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenji_Cabrera.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Cabrera > Source revision: 1356627044 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Peruvian footballer (born 2003) In this [Spanish name](/source/Spanish_name), the first or paternal [surname](/source/Surname) is *Cabrera* and the second or maternal family name is *Nakamura*. Kenji Cabrera ケンジ・カブレラ Personal information Full name Kenji Giovanni Cabrera Nakamura[1] Date of birth (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003 (age 23) Place of birth Shiga, Japan[1] Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] Positions Attacking midfielder left winger Team information Current team Vancouver Whitecaps FC Number 17 Youth career Esther Grande Alianza Lima Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 2021–2025 FBC Melgar 98 (13) 2025– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9 (1) International career‡ 2022–2023 Peru U20 14 (0) 2025– Peru 6 (0) * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of March 21, 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:13, 31 March 2026 (UTC) **Kenji Giovanni Cabrera Nakamura** (中村ジョバンニカブレラ健司, *Nakamura Jobanni Kaburera Kenji*; born 27 January 2003) is a professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who plays as an [attacking midfielder](/source/Attacking_midfielder) or [left winger](/source/Left_winger) for [Major League Soccer](/source/Major_League_Soccer) club [Vancouver Whitecaps FC](/source/Vancouver_Whitecaps_FC). Born in Japan, he represents the [Peru national team](/source/Peru_national_football_team). ## Club career Born in [Shiga](/source/Shiga_Prefecture), Japan to a Peruvian father and a Japanese mother,[2] Cabrera started his career with [Esther Grande](/source/Esther_Grande), before a short spell in the [Alianza Lima](/source/Alianza_Lima) academy.[3] He joined [FBC Melgar](/source/FBC_Melgar) in 2021, immediately being promoted to the first team, making his debut the same year.[3] In July 2025, [Major League Soccer](/source/Major_League_Soccer) club [Vancouver Whitecaps FC](/source/Vancouver_Whitecaps_FC) announced they had signed Cabrera to a deal through 2028, with an option for 2029.[4] He made his debut for his new club on August 13 against [Forge FC](/source/Forge_FC) in the semi-finals of the [2025 Canadian Championship](/source/2025_Canadian_Championship).[5] On September 20, on his first start for the club, he scored his first MLS goal in the Whitecaps' 2–0 victory over [Sporting Kansas City](/source/Sporting_Kansas_City).[6] ## 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.[7] He has represented Peru at under-20 level.[1] On September 4, 2025, he made his debut for the senior [Peru national team](/source/Peru_national_football_team) in an away defeat against [Uruguay](/source/Uruguay_national_football_team) (3–0).[8][9] ## Career statistics ### Club - *As of March 21, 2026*[10] Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals FBC Melgar 2021 Peruvian Primera División 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2022 20 1 0 0 8[a] 0 0 0 28 1 2023 30 2 0 0 5[b] 0 0 0 35 2 2024 28 4 0 0 1[b] 0 0 0 29 4 2025 16 6 0 0 10[c] 3 0 0 26 9 Total 98 13 0 0 24 3 0 0 122 16 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2025 Major League Soccer 6 1 3[d] 0 0 0 4[e] 1 13 2 2026 3 0 0 0 4[f] 1 — 7 1 Total 9 1 3 0 4 1 4 1 20 2 Career total 107 14 3 0 28 4 4 1 142 19 **Notes** 1. **[^](#cite_ref-CS_11-0)** Appearances in the [Copa Sudamericana](/source/Copa_Sudamericana) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CL_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CL_12-1) Appearances in the [Copa Libertadores](/source/Copa_Libertadores) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Four appearances and one goal in Copa Libertadores, six appearances and two goals in Copa Sudamericana 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Appearances in [Canadian Championship](/source/Canadian_Championship) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Appearances in [MLS Cup Playoffs](/source/MLS_Cup_Playoffs) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Appearances in [CONCACAF Champions Cup](/source/CONCACAF_Champions_Cup) ### International - *As of match played 31 March 2026* Appearances and goals by national team and year National team Year Apps Goals Peru 2025 4 0 2026 2 0 Total 6 0 ## Honours **FBC Melgar** - [Torneo Apertura 2022](/source/2022_Liga_1_(Peru)#Torneo_Apertura) **Vancouver Whitecaps FC** - [Canadian Championship](/source/Canadian_Championship): [2025](/source/2025_Canadian_Championship)[11] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wf_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wf_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wf_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wf_1-3) [Kenji Cabrera](https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/kenji-cabrera/) at WorldFootball.net 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** TROME, NOTICIAS. ["| DEPORTES | TROME"](https://trome.pe/deportes/melgar-kenji-cabrera-el-jugador-que-dejo-ir-alianza-lima-y-que-pateo-el-primer-penal-ante-inter-de-porto-alegre-copa-sudamericana-noticia/). *Trome* (in Spanish). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231031174417/https://trome.pe/deportes/melgar-kenji-cabrera-el-jugador-que-dejo-ir-alianza-lima-y-que-pateo-el-primer-penal-ante-inter-de-porto-alegre-copa-sudamericana-noticia/) from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ec_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ec_3-1) Zanatta, Diego (14 August 2022). ["¿Quién es Kenji Cabrera, futbolista nacido en Japón que es sensación en Melgar?"](https://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-peruano/quien-es-kenji-cabrera-futbolista-nacido-en-japon-que-es-sensacion-en-melgar-rmmd-dtbn-noticia/) [Who is Kenji Cabrera, a soccer player born in Japan who is a sensation in Melgar?]. *El Comercio* (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 January 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Whitecaps FC acquire U22 Initiative midfielder Kenji Cabrera from FBC Melgar"](https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/vwfc-acquire-kenji-cabrera). 22 July 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Blackmon and White score; Cabrera makes his debut"](https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/blackmon-and-white-score-cabrera-makes-his-debut/n-6268747). 13 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Gold, Alistair. ["New club record🔥"](https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/new-club-record-mls-points). *Vancouver Whitecaps FC*. Retrieved 21 September 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Kenji Cabrera habló sobre su golazo de tiro libre con Melgar: "Lo sorprendí a Ángelo""](https://www.eldiez.com.pe/liga-1/kenji-cabrera-hablo-sobre-su-golazo-de-tiro-libre-lo-sorprendi-a-angelo-noticia/). 30 April 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** en, Por Miguel Solis RuizSeguir (4 September 2025). ["Perú vs Uruguay 0-3: goles y resumen de la dura derrota 'bicolor' por la fecha 17 de las Eliminatorias 2026"](https://www.infobae.com/peru/deportes/2025/09/04/peru-vs-uruguay-en-vivo-hoy-america-tv-atv-movistar-deportes-montevideo-fecha-17-eliminatorias-2026-goles-resumen-resultado/). *infobae* (in European Spanish). Retrieved 22 November 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Kenji Cabrera debutó con Perú contra Uruguay en las Eliminatorias"](https://www.espn.com.pe/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/15633036/peru-vs-uruguay-fecha-17-eliminatorias-debut-de-kenji-cabrera). *espn.com.pe* (in Spanish). 5 September 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Kenji Cabrera](https://int.soccerway.com/players/kenji-giovanni-cabrera-nakamura/678549/) at Soccerway 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["FOUR-PEAT: Vancouver Whitecaps retain Canadian Championship title"](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/four-peat-vancouver-whitecaps-retain-canadian-championship-title). Major League Soccer. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025. ## External links - [Kenji Cabrera](https://int.soccerway.com/players/-/678549/) at Soccerway.com - [Kenji Cabrera](https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/kenji-cabrera/) at WorldFootball.net - [Kenji Cabrera](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/100849.html) at National-Football-Teams.com - [Kenji Cabrera](https://fbref.com/en/players/eb442b0c/) at [FBref.com](/source/FBref.com) - [Kenji Cabrera](https://www.kicker.de/kenji-cabrera/spieler) at [kicker](/source/Kicker_(magazine)) (in German) - [Kenji Cabrera](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/kenji-cabrera) at [Major League Soccer](/source/Major_League_Soccer) v t e Vancouver Whitecaps FC – current squad 1 Takaoka 2 Laborda 3 Adekugbe 4 Veselinović 6 Priso 7 Sabaly 8 Larraz 11 Sabbi 12 Halbouni 13 Müller 14 Caicedo 15 Schonlau 16 Berhalter 17 Cabrera 18 Ocampo 19 Elloumi 20 Cubas 22 Jackson 24 White 25 Gauld 26 Ngando 27 Bovalina 28 Johnson 29 Gherasimencov 30 Zendejas 32 Boehmer 33 Blackmon 53 O'Neill 59 Badwal 97 Mackenzie Head coach: Sørensen Assistant coach: D'Agostino Assistant coach: Shaw Goalkeeper coach: Dahha --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenji Cabrera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Cabrera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Cabrera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.