Signing news: Japanese young gun Tsubaki agrees loan to Melbourne City

Melbourne City FC can announce the signing of Japanese attacker Naoki Tsubaki ahead of the 2020/21 A-League season. 

The 20-year-old joins the Club on loan until the end of the 2020/21 season from J.League outfit Yokohama F. Marinos. 

Tsubaki spent his last two seasons on loan at J2 side Giravanz Kitakyushu where he made 39 appearances, during his time at the club.  

The attacker represented his country at under 17 level during the 2017 U17 FIFA World Cup with Japan including an appearance against England and was a graduate of the Yokohama F. Marinos academy. 

Melbourne City FC Director of Football Michael Petrillo said: 

“We’re excited to have Naoki here at Melbourne City and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can produce in the A-League. 

“He comes to us in high regard from Ange Postecoglou and his coaching team at Yokohama and we believe he’ll be a great addition to our final third. 

“Naoki has the ability to play a range of positions in attack and his mix of technical ability, speed and creativity has impressed us in what we have seen from him.” 

Naoki Tsubaki said:  

“I’m delighted to be joining Melbourne City for the upcoming season and the exciting prospect of playing in the A-League. 

“This is a new adventure for me and my career and I’m looking forward to what I can contribute to the team in both the league and the Asian Champions League.” 

Tsubaki the Club’s seventh signing of the 2020/21 pre-season joining Ben Garuccio, Andrew Nabbout, Marco Tilio, Matt Sutton, Taras Gomulka and Aiden O’Neil at Melbourne City for the upcoming season.