Takayuki Morimoto

On 24 December 2015, Morimoto signed for Kawasaki Frontale on a two-year deal, with the contract starting 1 February 2016.

On 7 January 2013, Morimoto was loaned to Al-Nasr Dubai, coached by former Catania manager Walter Zenga. The loan deal expired on 30 June 2013 and the player returned to Sicily.

Morimoto signed for J2 League club JEF United Chiba on 14 August 2013, for an undisclosed fee.

On 11 July 2011, Catania confirmed to have sold Morimoto to newly promoted Serie A club Novara in a co-ownership bid. Morimoto's season was hampered by injuries which limited the Japanese international to just 18 league appearances, producing four goals. At the end of the season, Novara was relegated to Serie B after placing 19th, and Morimoto officially returned to Catania on 21 June 2012.

Despite all the talent and all the potential, the striker has never really lived up to all the expectations following an improvement in each of his first three seasons in Sicily. During the 2009–10 season, Morimoto scored an additional five goals, adding a further two during the 2010–11 league campaign. His performances have often been over-shadowed by the likes of Giuseppe Mascara, Maxi López, Jorge Martínez and Gionatha Spinesi, while the signing of Argentine international Gonzalo Bergessio also limited his chances to feature.

On 10 October 2009, Morimoto made his debut for the senior national team against Scotland, coming on as a substitute for Ryoichi Maeda in a 2–0 win. On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.

On 14 December 2008, Morimoto signed a three-year contract extension with Catania lasting to 2011.

Morimoto had a breakthrough season for Catania during the 2008–09 season, as he scored 10 goals in 25 league and Coppa Italia games, while also being credited with several assists. Brazilian and Milan star Alexandre Pato told Italian sports daily Corriere dello Sport that he believes Morimoto is the best young player in Serie A and has compared him to Brazilian legend Ronaldo.

Morimoto made his Serie A debut on 28 January 2007 during an away game against Atalanta. He entered the game at the 83rd minute and scored the equalising goal, his first, just five minutes later. On 13 March 2007, it was confirmed by Catania that Morimoto had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and would be out for at least six months, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2006–07 season. Despite the serious injury, Catania recognised his true potential and he completed a permanent transfer deal with Catania on June 2007.

On 13 March 2004, Morimoto made his J1 League debut for Tokyo Verdy against Júbilo Iwata at the age of 15 years, 10 months and 6 days, a league record for youngest player to debut. He scored his first goal against JEF United Ichihara on 5 May of the same year, two days before his 16th birthday, another league record for youngest goal scorer. He captured the J.League Rookie of the Year Award for the 2004 season. On 23 July 2006, Tokyo Verdy announced a one-year loan deal sending Morimoto to Catania of Serie A.

Morimoto has represented Japan at the Japan U-20 national team level at both the 2004 AFC Youth Championship and the 2005 World Youth Championship. In 2008, he was a member of the Japan U-23 national team for the 2008 Summer Olympics, where the team was eliminated in the preliminary round, losing all three matches and only managing to score one goal.

Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Morimoto began his youth career with Tsudayama FC in 1995, before transferring to Verdy Junior in 1998. After three-year, Morimoto moved to Verdy Junior Youth in 2001, and remained until 2004, when he was sold to Tokyo Verdy.

Takayuki Morimoto (森本 貴幸 , Morimoto Takayuki, born 7 May 1988) is a Japanese football player who plays for Avispa Fukuoka.