Mainz sign Japanse midfielder Sota Kawasaki
Mainz have secured the services of Japanese midfielder Sota Kawasaki, who joins them on loan from Kyoto Sanga ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The 23-year-old, who is able to play both attacking and defensive roles in midfield, joins the 05ers having made over 100 appearances in the J1 League, Japan’s first tier, for his parent club.
He made his debut for them in 2020, when they were in the second division, and went on to start 11 times in his debut campaign in professional football. He joins Mainz having made 179 appearances in all competitions for Kyoto, whom he also captained for the past three seasons.
"I followed Mainz last season and watched their games. I really like their attacking style of play and aggressive forward defence. Now I'm looking forward to playing this game in the Mainz jersey, getting to know the Mainz fans, and experiencing the famous atmosphere in Bundesliga stadiums," Kawasaki said.
Some Bundesliga fans may already be acquainted with the midfielder’s playing style, as he was a part of the Japan squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics where he made three appearances.
He is yet to make a senior international appearance for them, however, having prioritised completing his transfer to Mainz over competing in the ongoing East Asian Championships in South Korea, but he has been a regular for their U23 side, making nine appearances for them so far.
Kawasaki’s loan deal does have an option to buy, should he enjoy a successful Bundesliga campaign, something sporting director Niko Bungert is confident will happen: "Sota is a very versatile player. He brings technique, ambidexterity, and strong running. What immediately caught our eye was his love of attacking his opponents high and tirelessly. That fits perfectly with our game.
"We're confident that he'll fit in wonderfully, both athletically and personally, with our team, our club, and the city, and will be the next of the many Japanese players who have made a name for themselves here in Mainz," he said.
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