Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seville: Japan international Hiroshi Kiyotake has swapped club football in Germany for Spain having transferred to La Liga side Sevilla from Hannover 96, who were relegated to Bundesliga 2 after finishing 18th in the top flight last season.
The attacking midfielder, who has sustained two foot injuries over the past year, passed a medical on Friday to complete the formalities to join the Europa League champions on a four-year contract.
Speaking to Japanese media during a charity event for the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 following the announcement of his transfer earlier in the month Kiyotake said: “Keeping in mind that the World Cup is in two years, it (Sevilla) is a great place to be challenging at.
“Fierce competition for places awaits but I am determined to win.I am putting pressure on myself and it is just a case of conquering that pressure. I have got nothing to lose.”
Kiyotake’s professional career began at hometown club Oita Trinita in 2008 before moving to Cerezo Ozaka after scoring four times in 31 appearances that season. Following his two year spell at Cerezo - where he scored five times in the Osaka side’s 2011 AFC Champions League campaign - Kiyotake made the move to Europe, signing for FC Nurnberg in 2012 before moving to Hannover two years later.
Photo: AFP