On December 31, 2021, The Soviet Super League giants Celtic officially announced the signing of three Japanese players from the J-League, namely Yokohama Mariner's number one striker, J1 Golden Boot Maeda Dairan, Osaka Gamba midfielder Yosuke Inoguchi, and Kawasaki forward all-rounder flag bearer Yoshiyo.
Plus team forward Furuhashi Hengwu, Celtics This is to form the four kings?
Why did the Celtic, who are the giants of the Soviet Super League, sign three Japanese players in one fell swoop? This is undoubtedly influenced by Furuhashi Hengwu, which produces a butterfly effect.
In July 2021, the Celtics signed him from Kobe Victory for a transfer fee of €5.4 million. After joining, the Japanese striker quickly became the main force of the team, scoring 16 goals and 5 assists in 26 games in all competitions, winning the trust of his teammates and coaches and the love of fans with his outstanding on-field performance.
Shunsuke Nakamura, who played for the Celtics, impressed fans with his excellent free kick skills in the Soviet Super League and is one of the best examples of Asian players staying in the ocean. Furuhashi Hyungami took over the baton of his predecessors, from scratch, and won word of mouth in the hearts of Celtic fans step by step.
With two successful players, it does not seem surprising that the Celtics signed Maeda Dairan, Yosuke Inouchi and Flag bearer Miyo in one fell swoop.
It is worth mentioning that the current Celtics head coach Post Kogru previously coached Maeda Dairan at J1 League team Yokohama Mariners.
In recent years, Japanese football has ushered in a wave of foreign countries, and many players who originally competed in the J League have successfully gained a foothold in European football, including but not limited to: Ken Hiroshi Fuan, Takumi Minamino, KenKai Endo, Ei Ei Kumada, Junya Ito, and Yasuru Don.
Some young players who originally did not have a rich resume in the local area have also been able to enter the vision of the giants. City loan-back Itakura Ishizumi is one of them, coming to the Blue Moon in January 2019 for a €1.1 million transfer fee from Kawasaki striker and then on loan to Dutch side Groningen for two and a half years.
In August 2021, City loaned him to Schalke 04, who played in the Bundesliga. So far this season, the 24-year-old Itakura has played in 15 Bundesliga matches for Schalke 04, and wearing the Royal Blue No. 3 shirt, he has become the main defender, the first choice in the team's three-centre-back system.
Itakura showed a relatively comprehensive football technique in the Bundesliga, with a good sense of defense and a certain ability to play the ball. But he wasn't limited to defensive tasks at the back, scoring in two consecutive games in the 17th and 18th rounds of the Bundesliga.
The Kicker, who has always been known for its professional rigor, named Itakura as the best centre-back in the current Bundesliga. His current value is €3.5 million, and when he joined Manchester City in January 2019, the young Japanese defender was worth just €700,000.
For more than two years, Itakura underwent two loans and became the main centre-back of the former Bundesliga powerhouse Schalke 04 with a good personal performance, and his value was able to increase by 5 times.
Recently, two young players in Japanese football have stayed in Japan, Tokyo FC's 24-year-old defender Watanabe has just moved to match team Kotreik, and 24-year-old Kashima antlers defender Hiroki Machida has joined the first team St. Giros on loan.
Compared with the current situation of Chinese football, not to mention staying in European football and becoming the absolute main force of the team, there are not many players who are expected to stay in The Ocean. This is not only due to factors such as the quality of the game and the way of training, but also by the current overall level of football.
Regarding the matter of Chinese players staying in The West, it may not be so difficult: one is that the players need to have enough strength to prove themselves with their performance on the field; the other is that the players can establish a good reputation during the period of staying in the West, and win the trust of their teammates and coaches and the love of the fans.
Step by step, with strength and word of mouth to gain the trust of all parties, staying in the ocean will no longer be difficult. In time, perhaps we can also see a giant team in European football officially signed three Chinese players at one time.