Leeds United schedule ‘signing time’ for Ao Tanaka with deal ‘done’
Ao Tanaka’s move from Fortuna Dusseldorf to Leeds United is a “done deal”, according to Sacha Tavolieri.
The Belgian journalist reported via his X account on Thursday (29 August) that “signing time” is scheduled for the 25-year-old Japan midfielder the day before the summer transfer window shuts.
While Taovlieri claims it’s a done deal, no club has officially confirmed the news while Sky Sports have reported that Tanaka is on his way to England for a medical to complete his £3.4million move.
Leeds United to complete new signing with Ao Tanaka Yorkshire-bound
Leeds fans will be happy to see a new player coming in to join Daniel Farke’s squad – but they won’t be falling head over heels for the deal.
Tanaka seems like a decent player.
The midfielder has 27 caps for Japan and scored at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar against Spain.
However, his only top-flight experience came in Japan with Kawasaki Frontale because since joining Fortuna in 2022, he’s only played in 2. Bundesliga.
At the end of last season, Tanaka struggled in a play-off final defeat to VfL Bochum, leaving Fortuna to spend at least another year in the second tier of German football.
Leeds have made a lot of money this summer so spending £3.4million on signing a second-tier player from Germany isn’t exactly headline-making news.
However, he could be a good option to bulk of Farke’s squad because he’s bound to encounter injuries and suspensions over the course of the new campaign.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are sole bidders in the race to sign an international forward before the 11pm deadline on Friday.
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