'Kōta Yamamoto has real potential' - Niko Kovač
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač has acknowledged Kōta Yamamoto's promise while urging patience with the teenager's development.
The Japanese midfielder, who joined Dortmund's reserves on a season-long loan from Gamba Osaka in July, caught the eye after scoring in the recent pre-season friendly victory over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.
"I saw him for the first time [in that game]," Kovač said. "He had some good moments. I saw real potential, and that's positive for us."
Watch: Oberhausen 1-3 Dortmund - highlights
Yamamoto's arrival has inevitably drawn comparisons with Shinji Kagawa, one of the Bundesliga's most successful Japanese players. Kagawa joined BVB in 2010 and quickly became a key figure under Jürgen Klopp, helping the Black-Yellows win back-to-back Bundesliga titles before moving to Manchester United.
However, Kovač stressed that Yamamoto's development must be handled carefully. The 18-year-old is currently part of the pre-season set-up, but the current plan is for him to continue with Dortmund's U23 side in the fourth tier during the 2026/27 season. Nevertheless, the door to the first team remains open. "We'll be keeping an eye on him," Kovač affirmed.
Watch: Top 5 Japanese goals in the Bundesliga
As part of their pre-season preparations, Dortmund will tour Japan from 26 July and 2 August, before heading to London to take on defending Premier League champions Arsenal in a friendly.
Last season's Bundesliga runners-up will then turn their attentions to the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Bayern Munich, and the start of the new league campaign.
