Melbourne City have signed AFC Champions League winner Takeshi Kanamori from J1 League outfit Avispa Fukuoka.
Kanamori joins the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions on a two-year deal and with a decorated CV in Japan, where he amassed more than a decade of top-flight experience.
The versatile 31-year-old attacker arrives in Melbourne with 400 professional appearances and a list of honours which include the AFC Champions League title, Japanese Super Cup crown and a J.League Cup trophy.
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Kanamori makes the move to City on the back of his second spell with Avispa, where he made 309 appearances – including 13 in the J1 League this season – and scored 40 goals to go with a 2023 J.League Cup medal.
He also spent time at Japanese giants Kashima Antlers, winning the 2018 AFC Champions League Elite and 2017 Super Cup before a spell with Sagan Tosu.
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“To Melbourne City FC’s fans, staff and the whole community, My name is Takeshi Kanamori and I’ve just transferred from J.League’s Avispa Fukuoka,” he said. “Please call me Takeshi!
“I’m truly happy to be joining this wonderful club. I’ll do my best, putting all the experience I’ve gained so far into this project, aiming to not only win the Championship for the second time in a row, but also to win the ACL together.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting you all very soon! Thank you for your support!”
Kanamori – known for his intelligent movement, penetrating runs, and tireless work ethic – is no stranger to Australian opposition, having come up against Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar in the AFC Champions League previously.
He is City’s second new face this off-season as Aurelio Vidmar and Co. prepare to juggle A-Leagues and AFC Champions League Elite commitments in 2025-26, after Liam Bonetig while young gun Beckham Baker (2027-28) has been promoted to the first team.
Alessandro Lopane (2027-28), Samuel Souprayen (2025-26), Max Caputo (2027-28) and Harry Shillington (2025-26) have also re-signed.
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
“Takeshi is a fantastic addition to our squad, a player with high-level experience whose technical attributes seamlessly align with our style of play,” said director of football Michael Petrillo.
“His ability to stretch defences, create depth with his runs, and his commitment off the ball make him a great fit for our attacking system. He also brings leadership and a winning mentality, having played at the highest level in Asia.
“With his AFC Champions League experience, we believe Takeshi will be an important asset as we prepare for both our ACL Elite campaign and the upcoming A-League Men’s season.”
