Arsenal have completed the signing of Japanese international Junichi Inamoto from J-League club Gamba Osaka. The 21-year-old midfielder was part of the successful team that won both the Asian Cup and Kirin Cup this year. Arsenal would not disclose the fee, but it is believed that they paid around £4m for him. Inamoto is Arsene Wenger's fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Richard Wright, Sol Campbell and Francis Jeffers.
Wenger said that Inamoto is "physically strong and a great passer of the ball". Inamoto does not speak English, but said through an interpreter: "The move to Arsenal is excellent for both Japanese football and myself. I'm looking forward to playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and also being part of a successful team."
Inamoto will probably make his debut later this week in one of Arsenal's three pre-season friendly matches in Austria. Further matches have been arranged against Real Mallorca next Monday and AS Roma on the following Wednesday.
Wenger enjoyed a successful spell as manager of J-League side Nagoya Grampus Eight in the early 1990s, winning several trophies before joining Arsenal, and several other Japanese players including £28m-rated Roma star Hidetoshi Nakata have also been linked with moves to North London this summer. Wenger confirmed his interest in the player while attending the Confederations Cup Tournament in the Far East last month.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
