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Official: Gamba Osaka sign Yasuyuki Konno
The national team mainstay should give a significant boost to the Gamba defence after they allowed 51 goals in last season's J1 campaign
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Jan 16, 2012 2:20:00 PM
By Dan Orlowitz
Takashi Sugiyama
J-League side Gamba Osaka announced the signing of star defender Yasuyuki Konno from FC Tokyo on Monday.
The transfer is just the second for Konno, who went straight from regional powerhouse Tohoku High School to Consadole Sapporo in 2001 before joining FC Tokyo in 2004. He then became an integral part of FC Tokyo's backline, starting in 32 or more matches in six of his eight seasons with the club.
Despite yearly offers from Gamba, Konno chose to stay with Tokyo even following the capital city club's relegation at the end of the 2010 season. He served as captain in 2011, playing 33 matches while also earning a team-best 14 caps for Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan squad.
The only player to start in every match during Zaccheroni's reign, Konno contributed to Japan's surprise round of 16 appearance in the 2010 World Cup, as well as their 2011 Asian Cup triumph.
After scoring his first international goal in November against Tajikistan, Konno ended the year by receiving J2's 'Most Exciting Player' award and scoring FC Tokyo's first goal in their 4-2 win over Kyoto Sanga in the Emperor's Cup final.
While some believed that his team's championship and subsequent Asian Champions League bid would convince the veteran to stay, the opportunity to play alongside midfielder and close friend Yasuhito Endo was too good to pass up for the four-time J-League Best Eleven recipient.
The multi-year contract will come at a cost for the Kansai club, as they will reportedly pay €1 million in transfer fees in addition to a similar yearly salary.
With 32 goals in 260 J1 appearances, the 28-year-old is widely considered to be one of the best centre-backs in Japan.
The transfer is just the second for Konno, who went straight from regional powerhouse Tohoku High School to Consadole Sapporo in 2001 before joining FC Tokyo in 2004. He then became an integral part of FC Tokyo's backline, starting in 32 or more matches in six of his eight seasons with the club.
Despite yearly offers from Gamba, Konno chose to stay with Tokyo even following the capital city club's relegation at the end of the 2010 season. He served as captain in 2011, playing 33 matches while also earning a team-best 14 caps for Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan squad.
The only player to start in every match during Zaccheroni's reign, Konno contributed to Japan's surprise round of 16 appearance in the 2010 World Cup, as well as their 2011 Asian Cup triumph.
After scoring his first international goal in November against Tajikistan, Konno ended the year by receiving J2's 'Most Exciting Player' award and scoring FC Tokyo's first goal in their 4-2 win over Kyoto Sanga in the Emperor's Cup final.
While some believed that his team's championship and subsequent Asian Champions League bid would convince the veteran to stay, the opportunity to play alongside midfielder and close friend Yasuhito Endo was too good to pass up for the four-time J-League Best Eleven recipient.
The multi-year contract will come at a cost for the Kansai club, as they will reportedly pay €1 million in transfer fees in addition to a similar yearly salary.
With 32 goals in 260 J1 appearances, the 28-year-old is widely considered to be one of the best centre-backs in Japan.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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