2009 Transfer Round Up (March 2nd Update)

A full round up of all the ins and outs at Nihondaira since the end of the 2008 season. Information correct as of February 3rd 2009.

IN

DF Kosuke Ota (Transferred from Yokohama FC)
MF Ryo Takeuchi (Drafted from Yokomatsu Kaiseikan High School)
FW Frode Johnsen (Transferred from Nagoya Grampus)
FW Yu Kijima (Drafted from Tsukuba University)
FW Yuichiro Nagai (Transferred from Urawa Red Diamonds)

OUT

DF Toshihide Saito (Transferred to Fujieda MYFC)
DF Kazumichi Takaki (Transferred to Gamba Osaka)
DF Takahiro Yamanishi (Released and retired)
DF Takumi Wada (Transferred to JEF United)
MF Fernandinho (Released - Joined CR Vasco da Gama)
FW Mitsuhiro Toda (Released and retired)
FW Marcos Aurélio (Released - Joined Coritiba Foot Ball Club)
FW Akinori Nishizawa (Released - Joined Cerezo Osaka)
FW Takuro Yajima (Transferred to Kawasaki Frontale)

A couple of excellent signings, and some deadwood cleared out.

I was sad to see Takagi go, but in the bigger scheme, it looks like Kenta's plan to mould a team of young talent and experienced stars is coming to fruition beautifully.

February 3rd update:

In the last week, both Yamanishi and Toda have announced they're hanging up their boots after being released. Clearly no other club can come close to offering the status gained by pulling on that bright orange shirt, and so they have wisely chosen to call it a day. In all seriousness, I wish them all the very best for the future.

March 2nd update:

After his return from a loan spell at Shonan Bellmare, defender and former young player of the year Toshihide Saito has been transferred to Fujieda MYFC. That's MYFC as in My Football Club. MYFC Fujieda is a supporter funded venture along the lines of the My FC based in the UK. It's the first of its kind in Japan, and given our history as the football heart of the country, its not surprising that Shizuoka should be where it happened.

Local lad Saito made 244 appearances for us between 1996 and 2006 and scored 14 goals. In that period he also won 17 full international caps. Fujieda, which is just half an hour down the road from Shizuoka, play in the Shizuoka Prefectural League. Saito, one of six S-Pulse players in the J. League's 1999 team of the year, is a legend, and will be missed. Good luck!