2 star imports headline 'calibre' of Asian players eyeing A-League

You just have to look at the CV of two of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s newest imports to get an idea of the quality of players coming into the competition.

The Asian market has long been one fans and pundits have been desperate to see Isuzu UTE A-League teams invest in; step forward Macarthur Bulls star and South Korea international Ji Dong-won, and Melbourne City’s Japanese recruit Takeshi Kanamori.

Both bring quality and significant pedigree, not only to their new clubs but the A-Leagues.

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The Bulls pulled off a coup when they announced the signing of former Premier League striker Ji heading into season 2025-26. The popular 34-year-old South Korean moved to Campbelltown from K League 1 outfit Suwon FC, having made more than 100 appearances in Korean club football through stints at Suwon, FC Seoul and Jeonnam Dragons.

A transfer from Jeonnam to Sunderland saw Ji, who has also played in Germany, spend two seasons at the Premier League outfit – a spell highlighted by a memorable 93rd-minute match-winner scored against Manchester City in January 2012.

Then there is Kanamori – the sixth Japanese player in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season alongside Samurai Blue legend and Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai, Newcastle Jets’ former Yokohama F.Marinos star Kota Mizunuma, and Wellington Phoenix pair Hideki Ishige and Kazuki Nagasawa.

The “gifted” winger is an AFC Champions League Elite winner, who is in Melbourne with a decorated CV in Japan, where he amassed more than a decade of top-flight experience. The versatile 31-year-old attacker brings 400 professional games of experience to defending champions City and a list of honours which include the AFC Champions League title, Japanese Super Cup crown and a J.League Cup trophy.

These two Asian stars highlight the quality of players eyeing a spot in the Isuzu UTE A-League, as Socceroo Mitch Langerak flagged to aleagues.com.au last season.

After a history-making spell in the J1 League with Nagoya Grampus, former Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Langerak – who retired at the end of 2024-25 – revealed Japanese players were keen to make the move Down Under. The calibre of player inquiring about the competition had taken the Australian by surprise.

“The Japanese players are technically, tactically, exceptional,” Langerak told aleagues.com.au last season.

“They’re very, very good players, and you can see that with what they’ve contributed to the league already over the last couple of seasons, particularly.

“I’ve had a lot of players contact me. A lot of players speak to me about wanting to come to Australia and wanting to play in the A-Leagues.

“It’s quite surprising that the calibre of player and the people who have contacted me, not only just recently, but over the last couple of years.

“So, wow, I always think there’s a lot of potential throughout the world and for players who do have that drive and that intention to want to play in the A-League at some point.”

Fans will have the chance to catch Ji and Kanamori in action when the Isuzu UTE A-League gets underway on October 17.

Ji’s Macarthur visit Brisbane Roar in Round 1 on October 17, while Kanamori and City will kick-off their title defence away to Western Sydney Wanderers on October 18.

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