Western Sydney Wanderers have signed 28-year-old fullback Yusuke Tanaka for the upcoming AFC Champions League campaign.
With a rich footballing pedigree and the ability to play at both left and right fullback, Tanaka will be a key ingredient to the Wanderers ACL Championship defence this season.
Wanderers fans might remember Tanaka from the two AFC Champions League Group Stage matches in 2014 against Frontale.
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas knows first-hand the talents of this player in the prime of his career.
“Yusuke is a fantastic addition to our squad and brings a great deal of experience to the Wanderers,” said Tsatsimas.
“He is a talented and capable defender who can play either side of defence and having seen first-hand his work rate we feel that he will fit into both our style of play and our team culture very well.”
Starting his professional career at one of Japan’s most successful clubs in Yokohama F Marinos, Tanaka played 112 games before transferring to J-League side Kawasaki Frontale in 2011 where he would go on to play 155 matches including in the 2014 ACL.
The experienced Japanese defender has been initially signed on a short-term ACL contract for the Wanderers group stage and potential round of 16 matches.
Yusuke Tanaka
Born: 14 April 1986 (28)
Nationality: Japanese
Position: Defender (right or left back)
Height: 1.81m
Senior Clubs
2011-2014 – Kawasaki Frontale (155 app)
2005-2010 – Yokohama F Marinos (112 app)
