Hiroshi Ibusuki and Valencia, what became of the club’s first Japanese player? | OneFootball

Valencia are set to finalise, if nothing goes awry, the signing of Ryunosuke Sato. The 19-year-old, already capped by Japan, is viewed as an emerging talent and could become the club’s first Japanese to feature for the senior side.

According to Superdeporte, Japanese breakthroughs at the elite level remain relatively rare, though notable examples range from Nakata and Miura to Kubo.

The commercial appeal is obvious, with a 122 million-strong market, and a standout player can be lucrative regardless of output on the pitch. Valencia have previously had two Japanese on their books, one in the academy and one with Valencia Mestalla.

Hiroshi Ibusuki arrived from Sevilla after early spells with Girona, Zaragoza’s reserves and Sabadell. He had earlier left Japan at 18, then Sevilla loaned him to KAS Eupen before he joined Valencia Mestalla, where he scored six in 35 in a single season. Standing 196 centimetres, he returned to Japan, later tried Australia and India, and in January signed for Western Sydney, offering impact from the bench at 35.

More recently, Suzuki, a Japanese player of Ghanaian origin, spent a season on loan with Valencia’s Juvenil side at 18. He did not settle, then tried Badalona and Girona B over the next two years, and has since returned to Japan to revive his career despite his 1.92-metre frame.

Source: Superdeporte