Latest news with #KashimaAntlers
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Hoffenheim signs Japan defender Koki Machida from Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise
SINSHEIM, Germany (AP) — German team Hoffenheim has signed Japan defender Koki Machida from Belgian champion Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. The 27-year-old Machida, who has played 17 games for Japan, signed a 'long-term contract' at Hoffenheim, the Bundesliga club said on Friday without elaborating. Kicker magazine reported Hoffenheim agreed to pay around 4.5 million euros ($5.3 million) for the player, possibly rising to over 5 million ($5.9 million) with bonuses. 'In Koki Machida we've found a central defender who brings exactly the qualities we were looking for in this position,' Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Schicker said. 'He has international experience as a Japanese national team player and was an absolute key part of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise's championship-winning last season. Koki is an uncompromising defender who never shies away from a challenge.' Machida initially joined the Belgian team on loan from Kashima Antlers in 2022, earning a permanent switch the following year. Altogether he played 114 games for Union. 'For me the step to Hoffenheim and in the Bundesliga is the next in my career,' Machida said in a Hoffenheim statement. Hoffenheim finished just above the Bundesliga relegation zone last season. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hoffenheim signs Japan defender Koki Machida from Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise
Japan's Koki Machida, left, gets past Australia's Martin Boyle during their World Cup 2026 group C qualifying soccer match in Perth, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens) SINSHEIM, Germany (AP) — German team Hoffenheim has signed Japan defender Koki Machida from Belgian champion Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. The 27-year-old Machida, who has played 17 games for Japan, signed a 'long-term contract' at Hoffenheim, the Bundesliga club said on Friday without elaborating. Advertisement Kicker magazine reported Hoffenheim agreed to pay around 4.5 million euros ($5.3 million) for the player, possibly rising to over 5 million ($5.9 million) with bonuses. 'In Koki Machida we've found a central defender who brings exactly the qualities we were looking for in this position,' Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Schicker said. 'He has international experience as a Japanese national team player and was an absolute key part of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise's championship-winning last season. Koki is an uncompromising defender who never shies away from a challenge.' Machida initially joined the Belgian team on loan from Kashima Antlers in 2022, earning a permanent switch the following year. Altogether he played 114 games for Union. 'For me the step to Hoffenheim and in the Bundesliga is the next in my career,' Machida said in a Hoffenheim statement. Hoffenheim finished just above the Bundesliga relegation zone last season. ___ AP soccer:
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
International pundits rave about Sundowns' football at World Cup
It is a source of national pride to see some of the international reactions to Mamelodi Sundowns' impressive performances at the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup (CWC) in the US. Downs had something of a baptism of fire at their first CWC appearance in the old seven-team format in Osaka in 2016, losing 2-0 to host Japanese club Kashima Antlers and 4-1 to South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. In 2025 Sundowns got their first-ever CWC victory when they beat South Korea's Ulsan HD in their 1-0 opening Group F win in Orlando, Florida. The Pretoria team then went toe-to-toe with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling 4-3 defeat in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday that has been hailed as one of the games of the tournament. Downs will reach the last 16 if they upset famous Brazilian outfit Fluminense in their final Group F clash at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday night (9pm).
The Mainichi
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Football: Soma, Okamura spur Machida to 2-1 win over leaders Kashima
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yuki Soma opened the scoring early, and Daihachi Okamura added a second goal before halftime to give Machida Zelvia a 2-1 win against visiting J-League first-division leaders Kashima Antlers on Saturday. Go Kuroda's men went ahead after just six minutes at Machida Gion Stadium when Soma finished a rapid attacking movement that began with goalkeeper Kosei Tani's long ball. Defender Okamura doubled the lead in the 34th minute when he headed Hokuto Shimoda's lofted ball past Kashima keeper Tomoki Hayakawa. Yuma Suzuki sent his shot just outside the upright, and Leo Ceara headed wide as the visitors failed to convert chances early in the second half. Suzuki eventually pulled a goal back with an 85th-minute penalty after being brought down by center-back Ryuho Kikuchi. Machida's victory was their second in a row, while Toru Oniki's Antlers remained on 41 points with only one win from their last four J1 matches. Later in the day, second-placed Kashiwa Reysol were held to a thrilling 3-3 home draw by Kyoto Sanga, who came from behind three times. The draw left Kashiwa on 38 points and Kyoto on 35 points. Vissel Kobe moved up to third place after a Taisei Miyashiro brace gave the two-time reigning champions a 2-1 win at Kawasaki Frontale. Kyoto dropped to fourth from third in the table.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kashima Antlers bring Sint Truiden defender back to the J League
Sint Truiden have announced that left-back Ryoya Ogawa has left the club to join Kashima Antlers in the J League. The 28-year-old spent a few seasons in Europe but has now returned to Japan where he started his career. Neither side has discolosed whether or not there wsa a transfer fee and how many years the defender has signed with Kashima Antlers. Ogawa, who has been capped five times by the Japanese national team, began his career with FC Tokyo. After 173 appearances and six goals for the side, he spent a season on loan in Portugal with Vitoria de Guimaraes. Ogawa only made 11 appearances for the Portuguese outfit, but remained in Europe at the end of the 2022/2023 season by joining up with Sint Truiden. Initially on loan, Ogawa was brought in permanently last summer as a replacement for Eric Bocat, who had left to join Stoke City. Despite the sides struggles in the league, Ogawa had a good season. The left-sided player played 38 games in total for the club, scoring twice and providing four assists. He now joins a Kashima Antlers side that are top of the J league, while his former club FC Tokyo are down in 18th place. GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
