Huge coup as Newcastle Jets announce signing of Japanese international with glittering CV

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Newcastle Jets have added significant winning pedigree to their Isuzu UTE A-League squad, signing 34-year-old Japanese winger Kota Mizunuma on a contract for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Having persuaded the winger to move away from his native Japan for the first time in his career, the Jets also have the option to extend Mizunuma’s stay in Newcastle until the end of the 2025-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.

Joining from J. League side Yokohama F. Marinos, Mizunuma links up with Rob Stanton’s side having made 121 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals.

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A title winner with Marinos under Australian coach Kevin Muscat in 2022, the 34-year-old also boasts two caps for the Japanese national side.

Kevin Muscat relaying instructions to Mizunuma

“I can’t wait to meet all the fans,” said Mizunuma after putting pen to paper on his deal with the Jets.

“I will give my all for the team in every match. It is my aim to compete and grow together with this team. I am looking forward to seeing all the fans in the stadium.”

In a professional career which so far spans 16 years, Mizunuma has also enjoyed significant domestic success in Japan with the likes of Cerezo Osaka where he won both the J. League Cup and Emperor’s Cup in 2017.

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Furthermore, Mizunuma was also named in the 2022 J. League Best XI after helping Muscat and Co. win the title.

Kota Mizunuma of Japan celebrates winning during the EAFF E-1 Football Championship match between Japan and South Korea

“Kota is a player who brings a wealth of experience and quality to our side,” said Jets head coach Rob Stanton.

“He’s very versatile in the final third and will add a unique style to our attack. His resume speaks for itself, and he is a winner. I’m so happy to bring him here to Newcastle.”

Having officially now been registered, Kota is eligible for Newcastle’s upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League clash with Perth Glory where the Jets will look to bag their first home win of the campaign.

Mizunuma is the latest in a string of high-profile Japanese recruits to have moved to the Isuzu UTE A-League following on from the arrivals of defenders Yuto Misao and Takuya Okamoto at Perth Glory while Auckland FC also boast Japanese icon Hiroki Sakai.

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