Albirex Niigata confirmed it had awarded Shu Hiramatsu a full Pro A contract on Monday, after the forward achieved 450 minutes of action for his club.

The 22-year-old managed the landmark following his participation in the matchday five draw against Kashima Antlers in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League.

Hiramatsu is a native of Niigata and has made it up through the Under-15 and Under-18 teams of Albirex’s youth system.

This is the Kokushikan University graduate’s first year with his boyhood club’s first team, after spending the last four years representing his alma mater.