Arsenal have officially confirmed the departure of Takuma Asano to Stuttgart on loan after he failed to acquire a work permit for the second season running. The Japan international bagged four goals and four assists during his temporary spell at the German club last season.
Here is the statement from Arsenal’s official website:
Takuma Asano has re-joined Bundesliga side Stuttgart on loan for the 2017/18 season.
We’d like to wish him all the best for the upcoming campaign.
Asano was signed from J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima last summer with Arsene Wenger identifying him as a talent who could play a key role in the future.
However, he had not played enough for his nation to gain a working visa, and this earned him a season-long loan with Stuttgart with whom he bagged promotion to the Bundesliga.
Asano was not particularly clinical in front of goal for Stuttgart, but he managed to get his first taste of European football after having spent his early career in the J-League.
With Stuttgart earning promotion, they decided to activate a clause in Asano’s contract which would allow them to extend his stay by a further 12 months. The news was confirmed on the Gunners’ official website after it was justified that the striker had not played sufficient games to qualify to play in England.
The 22-year-old’s current deal is due to expire at the end of 2017/18 season, but there is every probability that he could have discussed his contract with the Gunners boss prior to his second season on loan with Stuttgart.
Arsenal have made a single signing in Schalke’s Sead Kolasinac for the summer, but there could be further additions in the coming weeks with Wenger looking to end the club’s long pursuit of the Premier League title.
