FREIBURG, Germany (AP) 鈥� Europa League finalist Freiburg is adding to its Japanese contingent by signing Japan forward Keisuke Got艒 from Belgian club Anderlecht.
The Bundesliga club said on Thursday that the 21-year-old Got艒 鈥� who is in Japan鈥檚 World Cup squad 鈥� joined in a straight transfer. It did not give the length of his contract.
Got艒 is the second Japanese player to join Freiburg since it lost the Europa League final to Aston Villa. Rihito Yamamoto came from Belgian side Sint-Truiden as the third signing of the summer after Yamamoto and goalkeeper Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen.
鈥淚n Keisuke, we鈥檝e won an exciting player with interesting potential. His daring style of play will be a real asset to us,鈥� sporting director Jochen Saier said. 鈥淗e likes to make runs in behind, has a good sense of space, and also knows how to position himself in the penalty area. He鈥檒l certainly need some time for integration and further development, 鈥嬧�媋nd he鈥檒l get it. We鈥檙e delighted.鈥�
Got艒 joined Anderlecht from Japanese club J煤bilo Iwata in January 2024 and spent last season on loan at Sint-Truiden. He scored 10 times while setting up five more in 28 Belgian Pro League appearances.
鈥淔reiburg was already very interested in me a couple of months ago,鈥� Got艒 said. 鈥淚 had the feeling from the start that management really wanted me and that was one of the main reasons I decided for Freiburg. I also saw some games in the Europa League. It鈥檚 a big club for me and I鈥檓 looking forward to the coming season.鈥�
Got艒 has international duty to think of first. Japan faces the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia in .
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