Arsenal sign striker Takuma Asano from Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima
The 21-year-old is Arsenal's second signing of the summer
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal have signed Japanese forward Takuma Asano from J-League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima for a currently disclosed fee.
The transfer for the 21-year-old has been agreed in principle and is subject to pending medical tests.
Asano’s debut for the Japanese national team came last August and the youngster has since gone on to make five appearances for his country.
Takuma is also expected to be named in Japan’s squad for the coming Rio Olympics in August.
Speaking about the transfer, manager Arsène Wenger said: “Takuma is a talented young striker and very much one for the future.
“He has had an impressive start to his career in Japan and we look forward to him developing over the next couple of years.”
The forward signed for Sanfrecce Hiroshima as an 18-year-old in January 2013 and helped his side to J-League titles in 2013 and 2015.
Having made 56 appearances for the club and scored 11 goals, Takuma was named as the J-League “Rookie of the Year” in 2015.
The Japanese striker will help to provide further cover to Arsenal’s attacking frontline after the London club failed to convince Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy to make the move from the King Power Stadium to the Emirates.
Takuma is Arsenal’s second signing of the summer after they secured Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka for a fee believed to be in the region of £30m.
Despite his age and lack of experience in English football, Asano is considered as one for the future and will be expected to train with Arsenal’s first-team squad.
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