Koki Ogawa joined NEC Nijmegen on loan from Yokohama FC / photograph: Kenzaburo Matsuoka
For the J.League, which starts in late February and finishes in early December, the summer represents the middle of the season when the European transfer market opens. There is no shortage of players leaving for Europe at this time, and in many cases this has led to a decline in team strength. The mid-season exodus of key players therefore provides something of a headache for J.League clubs.
Even so, in most cases clubs are willing to accept transfers to Europe – predominantly of up-and-coming talents in their early 20s – and there is a tendency to respect the wishes of the players and give them warm send-offs. There are pros and cons to this set of circumstances, but in some respects it is unavoidable given the respective league levels and financial situations, not to mention the desire of players to progress in their careers.
With more European clubs targeting Japanese players than ever before, it will be difficult to stop this trend. Indeed, many more talents left for Europe this summer.
After receiving zero offers from top leagues such as England, Spain, and Italy, Shonan Bellmare ace striker Shuto Machino moved to German second division side Holstein Kiel. The striker, who stands 185 cm (6.06 feet) tall and has great ability to break in behind the opponent’s back line, showed a high level of determination this season, scoring nine goals in 19 of J1 games.
He is said to have made the move because of his disappointment at not getting any playing time at the Qatar World Cup, at which he was one of the few domestic players to make the squad. However, the move is a big blow for Shonan as the team is struggling to avoid relegation to J2.
Yokohama FC, also looking to avoid the drop, similarly suffered the loss of their star striker. The team’s top scorer and MVP in J2 last season, Koki Ogawa was a key figure in their promotion to J1. The 26-year-old, who was also in good form in J1 this season, scoring six goals in 15 games, moved to Dutch side NEC Nijmegen. He has already shown his scoring ability at his new club, finding the net in the opening game of the season.
Nijmegen also welcomed Kodai Sano, formerly of Fagiano Okayama, to the club, and although the 19-year-old attacker had only been playing in the Japanese second division, his performances at the U-20 World Cup in May this year earned him a move to the Dutch top flight.
Making the leap from J3 to Portugal’s first division, meanwhile, is Ehime FC’s Toki Yukutomo. The 18-year-old, in his first year as a professional player, has not made much of a mark in Japan’s third division but decided to move to FC Famalicão. He is thought to have been highly rated for his performance in the Maurice Revello tournament, at which he played for Japan’s U-19 national team in June this year.
Four players have also moved to Sint-Truidense VV in Belgium, which is owned by a Japanese company: Zion Suzuki (Urawa Reds), Joel Chima Fujita (Yokohama F. Marinos), Ryotaro Ito (Albirex Niigata), and Rihito Yamamoto (Gamba Osaka). Suzuki, Fujita, and Yamamoto have all appeared for Japan U-22 national team, and are expected to participate in next year’s Paris Olympics.
Sint-Truidense have also added Ryoya Ogawa, who played for Vitória SC in Portugal last season. When including Shinji Okazaki, Daiki Hashioka, and Daniel Schmidt – who have been with the club since last season – there are now eight Japanese players in the squad.
Other new signings include Kyosuke Tagawa (FC Tokyo), who spent last season on loan at CD Santa Clara and has now moved to Heart of Midlothian in Scotland, and Yuito Suzuki (Shimizu S-Pulse), who was on loan at Strasbourg before returning to his former club this summer and then officially signing for Danish giants Brøndby IF.
Other players on the fringe of the Japan national team such as Takuro Kaneko, who has moved to Dinamo Zagreb from Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, have also crossed the ocean. This new ‘overseas group’ of Japanese players will hopefully bring good news to Japan from all over Europe.
Japanese players who moved to European clubs this summer
Germany
FW: Shuto Machino Shonan Bellmare → Holstein Kiel (2nd Division)
Netherlands
MF: Kodai Sano Fagiano Okayama → NEC Nijmegen
FW: Koki Ogawa Yokohama FC → NEC Nijmegen
Portugal
MF: Kotaro Nagata Yokohama FC → UD Oliveirense (2nd Division)
FW: Toki Yukutomo Ehime FC → FC Famalicão
Belgium
GK: Zion Suzuki Urawa Reds → Sint-Truidense VV
Kosei Tani Gamba Osaka → FCV Dender EH (2nd division)
MF: Joel Chima Fujita Yokohama F. Marinos → Sint-Truidense VV
Ryotaro Ito Albirex Niigata → Sint-Truidense VV
Rihito Yamamoto Gamba Osaka → Sint-Truidense VV
Shuto Abe FC Tokyo → RWD Molenbeek
Scotland
FW: Kosuke Tagawa FC Tokyo → Heart of Midlothian FC
Austria
FW: Rio Nitta Sagan Tosu → SKN St. Pölten (2nd division)
Switzerland
DF: Keigo Tsunemoto Kashima Antlers → Servette FC
Denmark
MF: Yuito Suzuki Shimizu S-Pulse → Brøndby IF
Croatia
MF: Takuro Kaneko Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo → NK Dinamo Zagreb