“Let’s win together every title that we can win,” the 36-year-old told Albirex’s official website. “I would like to devote everything of Lee Tadanari to this club so that I can make a lot of people smile through football.”

 

Lee famously scored with a stunning extra-time volley as the Japanese defeated Australia in the AFC Asian Cup final in Qatar as the Samurai Blue claimed the continental title for a record fourth time.

He becomes the latest high-profile signing for the Singapore Premier League after 2020 AFC Champions League-winning coach Kim Do-hoon took over at Lion City Sailors at the start of the year.

 

Kim was joined at the club by compatriot Kim Shin-wook when the Korea Republic international striker – also an AFC Champions League winner with both Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors – departed Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

Lee made his name at Kashiwa Reysol before joining Sanfrecce Hiroshima and then switched to English Premier League side Southampton, where he spent two seasons.

 

He joined Urawa Red Diamonds in 2014 and was part of the squad that won the 2017 AFC Champions League before departing to sign for Yokohama F Marinos in 2019, helping the club claim the J1 League title at the end of his first and only season under Ange Postecoglou.

Lee signed for Kyoto in 2020 and was used regularly off the bench by coach Cho Kwi-jae as the club gained promotion to the top flight of Japanese football in the recently completed domestic season.

Photo: AFP