Official | St. Pauli sign Japanese national team defender Tomoya Ando | OneFootball

St. Pauli’s reported on purchase of Japanese centre-back Tomoya Ando has been officially confirmed. Ando’s new Bundesliga outfit did not provide any details on the transfer fee paid to Avispa Fukuoka to acquire the 26-year-old. The Kiezkicker also didn’t divulge the length of Ando’s new contract. 

This will be Ando’s first station away from his native country while his Japanese club itself was only recently promoted to the top division. The Toyota-native’s rise came at a relatively late age, but Ando now has four J1 league goals to his credit in addition to three caps for the senior national team. 

Transfermarkt lists Ando’s estimated market value at €1m; a career high. 

Words on Ando’s Signing

“With him, we are gaining a player who excellent at anticipatory defending and wins the ball back frequently,” St. Pauli head coach Alexander Blessin noted in a club released statement. “He’s not a fixed position player. He possesses explosive acceleration that makes him dangerous in attack.”

“In recent years, he has always adapted very quickly to a higher level and developed into a national team player,” FCSP sporting director Andreas Bornemann added. “We are convinced that he can also play a solid role for us right away. With the signing of Tomoya, we are lending our defense additional flexibility as he can play in all positions in the back three.”

“This is an important step,” Ando himself added in a brief statement. “And now is the right time to make it.“

GGFN | Peter Weis