Leeds United have announced the signing of Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf on a permanent transfer.
Tanaka is Leeds’ seventh signing of the window and has signed a four year deal at Elland Road.
The 25-year-old is a Japan international scored 13 times in 42 matches for club and country last season. In 27 caps for the national team, he has featured at the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Tanaka has played in the 2. Bundesliga with Dusseldorf since joining from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale in June 2021.
He joins for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of €3.5million and bolsters Daniel Farke’s midfield unit.
Farke had made clear that he wanted further reinforcements in midfield early in the summer. That need intensified following the sales of Glen Kamara and Georginio Rutter to Stade Rennais and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively.
Tanaka can play in a range of positions in midfield and will wear the No 22 shirt at Leeds.
United continue to work on a deal to sign full-back Isaac Schmidt on a permanent deal from St Gallen in Switzerland.
The 24-year-old scored in a Europa Conference League play-off game against Tranzonspor of Turkey on Thursday night.
Leeds confirmed the signings of wingers Manor Solomon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Largie Ramazani on a permanent transfer from UD Almeria in the last week.
(Leeds United)
