BRIGHTON signed Japan star Kaoru Mitoma – and then shipped him off to Belgium for the year.
Albion signed Mitoma from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal.
But they instantly loaned the 24-year-old to sister club Royal Union Saint-Gilloise – also owned by Seagulls supremo Tony Bloom – for the season to gain European experience.
Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth said: “We’re delighted be able to sign Kaoru, who arrives off the back of a couple of really strong seasons in Japan.
“As part of his development we have decided to loan him to Union Saint-Gilloise, to help him become accustomed to European football, and test himself in a different environment.
“He’s one we have tracked for a while, so we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses in the next year and we will be watching him closely during his time in Belgium.”
Mitoma was part of the Japanese Olympic squad, which narrowly missed out on the bronze medal on home turf.
But the winger managed to get on the score-sheet in Japan’s third-place 3-1 play-off loss to Mexico.
The Seagulls also plan to add Arsenal ace Eddie Nketiah to their list of summer recruits.
Their boss Graham Potter has put the young Gunner at the top of his wanted list for the vacancy in his squad.
Brighton are hoping to land Nketiah, 22, for around £20million.
The striker has found it hard to crack the first team with Arsenal but is young enough to still establish himself in the Premier League.
Nketiah made 17 Prem appearances for the Gunners last term, scoring twice.
He also spent the second half of the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Leeds, appearing 17 times in the Championship as they won the title.
Brighton have come into some cash recently after selling England defender Ben White to Nketiah’s current employers Arsenal for £50m.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
