Players joining

Here are our new players for the 2026 season. Apologies to the official site for stealing their photo. I thought I needed something to make this post look slightly more appealing. 

New signings

Svend BRODERSEN

One of two big signings in this window. Regular readers will probably know that I have my doubts about Yamaguchi so I was delighted to see us sign Brodersen from Okayama where he’d been one of their best players. Only missed one match for them last year and that was due to a red card ban. With him in goal they conceded significantly less goals than we did last year, even though they had only just been promoted. Surely will be first choice…. won’t he? Surely he will. I remember he seemed like a nice chap who had a bit of a laugh with us behind the goal when he was playing for Yokohama FC a couple of years ago. I like to think that he will be one of the missing pieces in our jigsaw. Please let this be true…

KONNO Kazuya

Signed from Avispa to link up again with his former manager Hasebe. A short midfielder, (we seem to be a bit low on our complement of them at the moment, hehe), who will presumably challenge for the right wing spot. Ito has long said he prefers to play on the left, so maybe we won’t be quite as reliant on Marcinho as in previous seasons. It’s good that it seems like we will actually have some decent options and competition in 2026.

MOCHIYAMA Kyosuke

Played very briefly for us once last season away at Nagoya but now has a proper contract. Plays as a supporting striker but I think he came on on the left in that Nagoya game. Seems to widely be considered as one to watch so hopefully we’ll get that opportunity in 2026.

OSA Ryuki

Left-sided midfielder who scored 16 goals in 47 appearances for his high school in the Takamado U18 PL East last year. Don’t know much else about him but the stats at least sound promising.

TANIGUCHI Hiroto

The other big signing of the off season and one which has given me a bit of optimism about our chances. Not only was he Verdy’s best defender he was also their second top scorer. And his hattrick against us the season before last is still quite fresh in the memory. Clearly our big weakness last year was defending, and Taniguchi looks like he could play a massive part in sorting that out. Fingers crossed.

YAMAHARA Reon

Right-footed full back signed from Shimizu. Can play on either the right or left of the defence. (Another player with Yama in his name. Could we name a whole starting eleven with Yama players? Maybe). Aside from injury was pretty much an ever present for Shimizu last year. Seems to have only received four yellow cards in five seasons! Presumably he’ll be sent off as soon as he gets on the pitch for us. Clearly the Sai replacement, but I guess time will tell whether we have upgraded or have just gone for someone on a lower wage. (Pure speculation from me here).

YAMAICHI Shuto

Central midfielder joining us from Waseda University. Although he did make the bench for a couple of games at the end of last season. To be honest, I don’t know anything else about him.

Returning from loan

HAYASAKA Yuki

Returned from a season on loan at Iwaki, where he was starting pretty much every game and then disappeared from sight. Not sure what happened, but I suppose at least he got a bit of experience. Unlikely to be able to get anywhere near starting this year, barring any injury disasters, but if he’s not going to play, I’d rather it is with us than with a J2 team on loan.

MATSUNAGANE Yuto

Back with us after a couple of reasonably successful years on loan at Fukushima. Still young and whilst I don’t think he’ll be immediately challenging for a starting spot, will hopefully be useful back up if injuries or transfers occur. Knowing Frontale, presumably both will. 

YUI Kota

Returning from a season on loan at Fukushima United where he didn’t play a great deal, but started to get a bit more pitch time towards the end of the season. If I remember correctly from his time in our youth team, he’s a defensive midfielder. Presumably won’t be getting much involvement this year and maybe will go out on another loan for a bit more experience.

Promoted from youth team

HAYASHI Shunsuke

Centre back promoted from our youth team. Seems to have played once for both the U17 and U19 national team. And that’s about all I know about him. 181cm tall. Presumably will spend this year training in the first team before being loaned out, perhaps in the summer.

KAN Noriharu

I feel a bit sorry for Kan, as I picked him out as one of the best players in our youth team last year, so now he has presumably been cursed. An all action left back who’s taller than some of our centre backs. According to some cursory research I’ve done, he seems to have Chinese citizenship which came as a bit of a surprise.