VfB have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Rinto Hanashiro, who will join the club’s U21 side in January. Hanashiro, who currently plies his trade at JFA Academy Fukushima, made 19 appearances in the U18 Youth League last term, registering two goals and four assists while still 17. Back in February, the playmaker caught the eye in a friendly between JFA Academy Fukushima and a VfB team composed of U19 and U17 players, scoring a hat-trick and setting up another two goals.
Hanashiro made his first Samurai Blue appearance last Saturday, playing the whole 90 minutes as Japan U18s were beaten 3-2 by England. He will become the third Japanese player in Markus Fiedler’s U21 side, after Anrie Chase and Rei Okada.
Welcome to Stuttgart, Rinto!