Koki Ogawa is departing Yokohama FC to join NEC Nijmegen on a season-long loan. Ogawa will play for the Dutch club in the Eredivisie for the season and NEC will have the option to turn it into a permanent transfer after.

Ogawa came up at Júbilo Iwata and also had a loan spell at Mito Hollyhock before signing with Yokohama in 2022. He immediately transformed the club, scoring 26 goals in the Meiji Yasuda J2 League to earn them promotion to the top flight. He’s been just as valuable in J1, scoring six goals this season to lead the team in their fight to avoid the drop.

The 25-year-old now makes the jump to Europe, following in the footsteps of so many other outstanding Japanese players who came through the J.League before jumping to the top steps of world football.

NEC finished 12th in the Dutch first division last season and were sixth from the bottom in goals scored. With Ogawa’s outstanding goal scoring record, he is the type of player who can lift their attack and not only help NEC, but also put himself in the frame to be called up for the Japan national team in the run up to the 2023 Asian Cup.

It’s been a pleasure watching you perform in the J.League and the best of luck in Europe, Koki!