I was interested in starting this topic, and I apologize for putting it in this forum, but the Asian section doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me, as almost all the threads have zero replies. 

Nowadays there's a lot of Japanese in the Belgian league. It's a good first step league for players looking to test themselves in Europe, and another player from their national squad has made his way over - Junya Ito to KRC Genk. 

I was kind of surprised Daichi Kamada didn't earn a call up to their squad, as his strike rate for St. Truiden has been amazing. He's on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Speaking of Frankfurt, Kicker rated Makoto Hasebe the best CB in the Bundesliga. He's so freaking underrated. 

Gen Shoji, who partnered Maya Yoshida at the World Cup, didn't feature at the Asia Cup, as he was busy in France with his new club, Toulouse. Japan definitely had their issues defensively. Shoji may have been missed. 

Son continued his vital goal scoring form for Spurs. Some are even putting him in the conversation of EPL Player of the Season. 

Shinji Kagawa, once the poster boy of Japanese and Asian football in general, has fallen from grace tremendously. It's really sad honestly, what's happened to him since his move to Man United. Dortmund have frozen him out, and He's looking to secure a move to La Liga, but no club appears interested. So for now He's stuck in limbo. His last appearances for BVB were against third tier opposition for Dortmund's reserve side.  

Kagawa recently moved to Besiktas on loan and scored twice on his debut. 

Missed that. 

I'm glad for him. 

Kagawa scored in the 88th and 90th for Besiktas. Asano was shit for Hannover yet again. 

Azmoun was on the cusp of a wolves move but he's gone to a bigger Russian club I heard. 

The Japanese obsession in the bundesliga has absolutely killed me over the years. Some have been fantastic but a lot haven't made the grade either. It's frustrating as I'd love to see Luongo get a shot. Despite his rough national team form, his style would be good in the league. 

The Japanese Hannover have had have all been garbage except Sakai. Even he had some really poor phases. 

What about Kiyotake? I remember one season he was one of the league's assist leaders, that may've been with Nuremburg however. Scored 10 goals in 53 appearances with you guys. Never a big scorer. 

Good stuff, Jeff.

Good thread and relates to the football scene in Aus.

Reckon he's one of the most underrated players in world football. He could do it for almost any club in the world but unfortunately Dortmund's system can't fit his role at all so I reckon he'll demolish the Turkish league (where Kiwi Tyler Boyd just moved on loan)

Hwang In-boom from South Korea signed as a young designated player with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Appeared in all games for Soutb Korea at the Asian Cup.

Hwang In-beom, that is. Darn phone.

South Korea is also spelt incorrectly. 

:D

Tragically, Shoya Nakajima has joined Qatari club Al Duhail. He'd been Portimonense's star man and a number of European clubs were interested in him, but ridiculously he's decided to take this path. 

Transfer fee is 35m euros. Think that tops Son's amount to make him the most expensive Asian player ever.

They have the same owners as PSG so the rumour is he will be heading to PSG in the next window.

Queiroz named Colombia coach: https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/carlos-queiroz-announced-as-new-colombia-manager?_branch_match_id=622284015627241840

Interesting to see what happens with Iran, i expect they might regress a bit.

Still miffed  that Stephan shrock  . Manny ott and piño haven't been snapped up by a big Asian clubs

Wu Lei plays for Espanyol now and made his debut last week.

Transfer fee was only 1.8 million pounds too.

Didn't see that, great news, hope he can make an impact over there.

Asian Players abroad at Top 7 European Leagues (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Portugal)

China
Wu Lei - Espanyol (Spain)
Tong Le - Desportivo Aves (Portugal)
Han Jiaqi - Desportivo Aves (Portugal)

Iran
A. Jahanbakhsh - Brighton & Hove Albion (England)
Ghoddos - Amiens SC (France)
Abedzadeh - Marítimo (Portugal)
Shekari - Rubin Kazan (Russia)
Mohammadi - Akhmat Grozny (Russia)
Azmoun - Zenit (Russia)

Japan
Okazaki - Leicester City (England)
Muto - Newcastle (England)
Yoshida - Southampton (England)
 Inui - Deportivo Alavés (Spain)
Shibasaki - Getafe (Spain)
Asano - Hannover 96 (Germany)
Kubo - Nürnberg (Germany)
Hasebe - Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
Usami - Fortuna Dusseldorf (Germany)
Ōsako - Werder Bremen (Germany)
Haraguchi - Hannover 96 (Germany)
Sakai - Marseille (France)
Kawashima - Strasbourg (France)
Shōji - Toulouse (France)
Nishimura - CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Gonda - Portimonense (Portugal)

Korea
Ki Sung-Yeung - Newcastle United (England)
Son Heung-Min - Tottenham (England)
Lee Kang-In - Valencia (Spain)
Paik Seung-Ho - Girona (Spain)
Jeong Woo-Yeong - Bayern Munich (Germany)
Koo Ja-Cheol - Augsburg (Germany)
Ji Dong-Won - Augsburg (Germany)
Suk Hyun-Jun - Reims (France)
Kwon Chang-Hoon - Dijon (France)

Kyrgyzstan 
Kichin - Yenisey (Russia)

Uzbekistan
Pashinin - Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
Denisov - Kryla Sovetov (Russia)
Shomurodov - Rostov (Russia)
Khamdamov - Anzhi (Russia)
Afonin - Orenburg (Russia)

Hahaha so much garbage comes out of your mouth. :laugh::laugh::laugh: Jealousy? 

Let's have a look at the current Japanese guys in the Bundesliga:

1. Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt) 
- As posted above, Kicker voted him as the best centre back in the league at 34 years of age. He won the Bundesliga with VFL Wolfsburg in 2008-09. 250 appearances across three clubs. Respected so much by Eintracht Frankfurt they want him to become part of their management when he retires.  

2. Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund) 
- Club legend ever since scoring two goals against Schalke in the Revierderby in his first season. Absolute star in Dortmund's midfield as the club won back-to-back league titles between 2010-12. MVP against Bayern Munich in the final of the DFB Pokal in 2011-12. 

3. Yuya Osako (Werder Bremen) 
- Signed from 1860 Munich in Bundesliga 2 after only making 15 appearances. He played an important role at FC Koln as they qualified for the Europa League in 2016-17. 

4. Genki Haraguchi (Hannover) 
- Over 90 appearances for Hertha Berlin. His strike rate is not impressive but he was trusted as a hard working player at his former club. He was part of Fortuna Dusseldorf winning promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2017-18. He's been average for Hannover but scoring against Belgium in the World Cup boosted his stocks. 

5. Takashi Usami (Fortuna Dusseldorf) 
- Signed with Bayern Munich as a teenager. He's failed to live up to expectations as the next big star of Japanese football but 50 Bundesliga appearances across three clubs. He was a key player for Fortuna when they won promotion last season. Regularly starting for the club this season.

The remaining:
-  Takuma Asano (Hannover), Yuya Kubo (FC Nurnberg) have been disappointments this season. 
- Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt) failed to play a single league game last season but he's scored 11 goals in 15 matches for SVV Sint Truiden on-loan in the Jupiler Pro this season.

Ex-Bundesliga players: 
1. Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart, Mainz)
- Over 100 appearances and scored 35 goals in Germany before signing for Leicester City. 

2. Hiroshi Kiyotake (FC Nurnberg, Hannover)
- Over 100 appearance and scored 17 goals in Germany.
- This "garbage" guy was signed by Sevilla. Unfortunately, the death of his son forced him to return to Japan.

3. Atsuto Uchida (Schalke)
- Fan favourite before consecutive knee injuries ruined his career.
- He made over 100 appearances including their famous run to the Champions League semi final in 2010-11.

4. Hiroki Sakai (Hannover)
- Over 90 appearances in Germany.
- Despite having some "poor phases" as you say it did not stop Marseille from signing him in 2016. He has started nearly every game in Ligue 1 including their successful Europa League campaign as they made the final. 

5. Takashi Inui (Eintracht Frankfurt) 
- Over 75 appearances in Germany. Never scored many goals but he was signed for Eibar in La Liga in 2015 where he's been based ever since. 

6. Yoshinori Muto (Mainz) 
- Scored 20 goals in 60 appearances in the Bundesliga. Signed for Newcastle United at the beginning of this season. 

7. Hajime Hosogai (Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin, FC Augsburg)
- Over 100 appearances across four years in Germany.

8. Gotoku Sakai (Hamburger SV)
- Captain at the club last season as they were relegated for the first time. Over 150 appearances in the Bundesliga across seven years. Still playing first team football in Bundesliga 2. 

9. Tatsuya Ito (Hamburger SV)
- 20 appearances as a 20 year-old in the Bundesliga last season after being promoted from reserve grade. 

The remaining: 
- Yoshito Okubo played only 9 games from the bench for VFL Wolfsburg in 2008-09 but he was still given the Bundesliga medal. 
- Tomoaki Makino (FC Koln), Mu Kanazaki (FC Nurnberg), Kisho Yano (SC Freiburg), Yuki Otsu (Borussia Monchengladbach) barely played any games before returning to Japan. 

And you're wondering why German clubs have an unhealthy obsession with Japanese players. 

Why on earth would any Bundesliga club have any interest in a 26-year-old playing for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship?

With the exception of Matthew Leckie (who has been solid at Hertha Berlin but not exceptional) are there any Australians playing in the German first division? Looking at the ex-Bundesliga players in several years is not exactly impressive: Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak, Dario Vidosic, Nikita Rukavystya, Matthew Spiranovic, Mustafa Amini (does he count?).  

Thanks for the thorough research. This issue I take is the number of matches many of the players got without doing anything remarkable. They receive an abundance of chances and move on at some point.

Kiyotake, Asano and Haraguchi have all been woeful at Hannover. Sakai was alright. 

 Hasebe, Kagawa, Muto and Okazaki have done extremely well. Hasebe ages like a fine wine. Osako and Usami are doing better now.

Gotoku Sakai has sent all HSV fans into a massive rage with his performances.

I suppose it's just the way they talk up these signings only for many to reach few heights that frustrates me. Meanwhile there appears to be no awareness of the decent Australian players that could be potentially signed to German clubs. 

I'm talking about the fact that not even a rumour has come for Luongo, Sainsbury, Rogic, Mooy, Ryan or others. I think Juric had a link to Freiburg once. 

Cong Phuong from Vietnam supposedly turned down offers from France's Ligue 2 in preference of playing for Korean side Incheon. 

Xuan Truong Long has moved to Buriram United in Thailand so has their goalkeeper Van Lam Dong who has moved to Muangthong United.

Vietnam Football continually improving. Nguyen Quang Hai probably the next to make a move overseas.

Not every Japanese (or Asian player) in the Bundesliga needs to be remarkable. Looking at the big picture, being a solid player with 25-30 games per season in the German first division is extremely impressive and there is no shame in that. Obviously, if you are playing for Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund then it is a different story. Outside of the traditional heavy weights, every club across every decent European league contains dozens of first team footballers both Asian and non-Asian who get consistent game time "without doing anything remarkable". 

Specifically for the Bundesliga, the mentality of Japanese and Germans is different but overall same. Incredibly disciplined and hard working. There is mutual respect outside of football. Culturally, moving to England is lot easier for Australian footballers. 

Wu Lei making quiet the impression

MADRID, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese striker Wu Lei has only played 71 minutes of first team football, but has already made a big impact with fans since joining in the Barcelona-based Spanish Liga Santander side, Espanyol.

Wu's arrival was greeted with some skepticism by supporters, who perhaps remember how the first Chinese footballer debut in La Liga as Chen Yansheng struggled at Rayo Vallecano, playing just eight minutes in his only league appearance.

However, Wu is already getting great headlines with the Spanish sports paper Marca writing about the "Conquest of Wu Lei" and the 'El Mundo Deportivo saying "Wu Lei conquers 'Los Pericos'", which is the nickname for his new club.

Wu made his debut in the last 12 minutes of Espanyol's 2-2 draw away to Villarreal eight days ago and was on the pitch as his side scored the equalizing goal after fighting back from 2-1 down.

Although he had only a brief time to adapt to the pace of the game, Wu won a couple of dangerous fouls for Espanyol and forced a corner in the closing minutes as the Villarreal defenders struggled to deal with his pace on the ball.

He was even more decisive in his second appearance, helping Espanyol come back for a 2-1 win at home to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Wu replaced Pablo Piatti in the 34th minute after the Argentinean suffered a knee injury which will sideline him for the rest of the season, and in the second half provoked the penalty which allowed Borja Iglesias to level the game from the spot.

Indeed Wu's performance earned him an ovation from the Espanyol fans who were delighted at the display of their new signing.

"I didn't expect my debut to create as much expectation as that and once again I have to thank the fans, because when I got onto the pitch, they made me feel as if I was already one of the family," said Wu on the Espanyol website.

"I am really happy to have made my home debut and for the way the fans got behind us at a difficult moment in the game," he said, adding that Piatti's injury was "a shame" even though it could open the doors to the starting 11 for him.

"I didn't expect to play so much so soon," confessed the Chinese player, who now has a great chance of starting against Valencia next Sunday.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/11/c_137813849.htm

Sardar Azmoun signed a 3.5 year deal with Zenit St Petersburg, a big move.

Scored two and assisted another in a 3-1 win over Fenerbahce in the Europa League Round of 32.

Great to hear, we need Asian players to succeed in Europe so we can get the deserved respect.

90 minutes for Hasebe in Eintracht Frankfurt's 4-1 win against Shakhtar.
Full match for Nagatomo in Galatasaray's stalemate against Benfica which sees them eliminated 2-1 on aggregate.

Martin Lo of Western Sydney Wanderers has joined Pho Hien FC in Vietnam's 2nd division.
I've never heard of this kid before, does any one know if he's played for Wanderers senior team before?  He's 22, I guess maybe he's moved on for the different lifestyle, its where his parents are from, and make a few dollars playing football while he's there.

Ji scored earlier against Dortmund. Could be a big goal in the title race in Germany. BVB have been faltering lately I think.