Feyenoord has strengthened its squad with Tsuyoshi Watanabe on Wednesday. The Japanese defender arrives from KAA Gent. Earlier in the day, the Rotterdam club saw Dávid Hancko leave.
It is not known how much money Feyenoord paid for Watanabe. The 28-year-old Japanese player signs a four-year contract at De Kuip.
Watanabe is looking forward to playing for Feyenoord. “It is a wonderful club with a lot of history, where you always fight for prizes,” says the four-time Japanese international on the club’s website. “And with Ayase Ueda, I also meet a compatriot in Rotterdam who I know from the national team.”
Watanabe started his professional career at FC Tokyo. He moved to Europe in 2022 to play for KV Kortrijk. A year later, Watanabe was signed by AA Gent, for whom he played a hundred matches.
With Watanabe, Feyenoord has secured its fifth summer signing. Earlier, coach Robin van Persie’s team strengthened itself with Sem Steijn, Luciano Valente, Gaoussou Diarra and Gonçalo Borges.
Feyenoord saw central defender Hancko leave earlier in the day. The Slovak was presented at Atlético Madrid, after a transfer to Saudi Arabia fell through a day earlier.