This summer’s transfers: Shinji Kagawa. « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
By Tony Attwood
This series of articles is based around players whom the press in Britain suggest Arsenal are interested in, going to sign, about to sign, have signed… It doesn’t mean I know what’s going on behind the scenes. Just an attempt to provide some background and then allow me to say “told you so” if we actually do by pure chance get one right.
So, Arsenal are challenging Manchester United for the signature of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa. We’ll do it because a) we already have one Japanese player (Ryo) and two Shinji is in Germany, and we are buying from Germany.
He’s 23, plays for Borussia Dortmund, has one year to go on his contract, wants to leave and will cost £7million.
He has scored nine goals in 29 games for his country, and like Ryo is very popular back home – so that would help the marketing.
Shinji Kagawa played for FC Miyagi Barcelona which is actually in Japan – if you can explain to me why the club has that name I would be grateful. The club are (or were) in the second division.
In 2010, he transferred to Borussia Dortmund for as he triggered a release clause in his contract that allowed him to move if he had a chance to play in Europe, and he made he debut in August for Borussia Dortmund.
He then missed half the season because of an injury on international duty (sound familiar?) but scored eight goals in 18 games and got his league winners medal and a place in the best XI in the league. He scored a late goal against Arsenal in the Champions League defeat.
He played in the under 20s for his country in 2007, and moved into the first team in 2008.
Overall he has played 197 games, scored 85 goals and got 44 assists.
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Other stories on the players of next season…