Wellington Phoenix have pulled off a coup, signing versatile Japanese midfielder Kazuki Nagasawa ahead of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Nagasawa – a one-time Japan international – joins the Phoenix on a two-year deal from J2 League side Vegalta Sendai, having scored one goal in 27 appearances this season.
The 32-year-old brings a wealth of experience to Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington with over 300 professional matches and three major titles over the past decade.
Nagasawa won the 2017 AFC Champions League title with Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds and followed that up with the 2018 Emperor’s Cup before teaming up with Melbourne Victory-bound Australian star Mitch Langerak at Nagoya Grampus to hoist the 2021 J.League Cup aloft.
He launched his career in Germany with FC Cologne, where he helped the club secure Bundesliga promotion in 2014.
“I’m very honoured to be able to join the Wellington Phoenix,” Nagasawa said.
“I’m also super excited about this new chapter in my career.
“It’s big for Japanese players to play overseas and since returning from Germany I was always thinking of trying again before I finished playing.
“It’s a good move for me and my family. My wife and I have talked about wanting to experience life together in another country. I am very honoured to have the opportunity to play in New Zealand.”
“The Wellington Phoenix have yet to win an A-League championship so firstly I want to win the title,” he added. “I also have 10 years experience as a professional player and I’ve heard there are a lot of young players at the club so maybe I can share my experience and knowledge to the young players on the pitch.”
Nagasawa swapped Nagoya for Vegalta Sendai in 2023 and racked up 40 matches and one goal during his time in the second tier.
Prior to that, he spent three seasons alongside Langerak at Nagoya following four successful campaigns at Urawa.
His arrival comes on the back of Italiano’s off-season trip to Japan, where he met with FC Tokyo’s Australian head coach Peter Cklamovski.
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“I remembered Kazuki from his time at Urawa, where he was a very influential player,” Italiano said.
“And when I heard he was interested in playing in the A-League I was keen to make a deal happen.
“Because he’s played as an out-and-out midfielder, as a left-sided midfielder, as a 10, and as a winger, I thought he’d be perfect for us.
“I want players that are able to play three or four different positions, because that’s what I’ll ask of them in games as we’ll constantly change shape.”
Nagasawa is the 20th player confirmed in Wellington’s squad for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League season.
He joins Marco Rojas, Paulo Retre, Luke Brooke-Smith and Josh Oluwayemi as the new faces at the Phoenix.
“I’m very happy with the acquisitions of Nagasawa and (Paulo) Retre. I think they’re going to add a lot to the team,” Italiano added.
“You need depth in a squad. It’s very, very important. I don’t think any team gets through the whole season with the bare XI.
“It also allows us to change things within the game as well. Whoever comes off the bench can add something and finish games for us.”
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