Leeds news: Whites agree January deal to sign Japan international Yosuke Ideguchi
LEEDS UNITED have agreed a deal to sign Gamba Osaka midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi.
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Elland Road chiefs struck an initial £500,000 deal plus add-ons for the Japan international last Friday, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
He will immediately be loaned out to a European club because he does not meet work permit regulations.
Ideguchi, 21, has been earmarked for next term but was snapped up now to allow him to continue playing.
The J-League season finished earlier this month and does not restart until the spring.
Ideguchi emerged as a target for Leeds following the appointment of former Japan international Toshiya Fujita as the club’s head of football development in Asia.
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Leeds United have agreed to sign Japan international midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi from Gamba Osaka
Reports in Japan earlier this morning suggested Ideguchi had reached an agreement with Leeds.
He has scored nine goals in 96 appearances for Gamba Osaka.
Ideguchi made his international debut for Japan earlier this year.
A move to a European club could put his World Cup hopes at risk.
But he said: ”Some have said that it is better to wait until after the World Cup.
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"But I want to go my own way and go as soon as possible.”
Ideguchi is excited by his move to Elland Road and believes Leeds are the perfect club to further his development.
He said: ”If I go, I think that this is a place where I can learn and improve as a player.
“I want to go early.”
