St. Pauli set to sign Japanese striker Taichi Hara (26) | OneFootball

Kicker reports that St. Pauli are on the verge of signing Japanese striker Taichi Hara. The 26-year-old’s Japanese club Kyoto Sanga has confirmed that the twice-capped Japanese international is in the midst of completing a transfer to a “foreign club“. Both Kicker and Japanese media sources confirm that the Hamburg Bundesliga outfit is Hara’s next destination. 

At present, none of the sources have anything to report as pertains to a transfer fee. Hara maintains an estimated market value of €1.5m according to the latest Transfermarkt listings. Hara’s imminent arrival fulfills St. Pauli’s need for a new striker. As such, one can safely assumer that the Kiezkicker are no longer interested in Argentine forward Rodrigo Castillo.

Taichi Hara will join two fellow Japanese Internationals at St. Pauli

St. Pauli summer signing Joel Chima Fujita has already established himself as a crucial competent in the FCSP midfield.New winter defensive addition Tomoya Ando made his first start under head coach Alexander Blessin in last night’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw with RB Leipzig. Ando went the full 90 minutes in his third German top flight appearance. 

Blessin will now have Japanese talent working in all areas of the pitch. Hara has scored 23 goals and provided 17 assists in 110 J-League appearances, with five goals and ten assists in 34 appearances last season. Importantly, Hara also brings with him plenty of European experience. The Tokyo native also played in Croatia, Spain, and Belgium. 

GGFN | Peter Weis