Thai defender Theerathon Bunmathan has been transferred from Yokohama F･Marinos to Buriram United F.C. of the Thai League, putting an end to four successful seasons in the J.League.

During Bunmathan’s time in Japan he became the first Southeast Asian player to win a J1 League title, helping Marinos to their 2019 success, and helped spur a remarkable surge in J.League interest in his homeland and across the region.

Theerathon’s remarkable J.League story may be written predominantly in Yokohama but it actually began in Kobe, where the left back played for one season on loan from Muangthong United F.C. in 2018 alongside global stars like Andrés Iniesta and Lukas Podolski.

Following that successful spell, Bunmathan spent 2019 on loan in Japan as well. This time he would join Marinos, where he had a sizable influence on the Tricolor’s title-winning campaign, including a goal in the crucial final matchday. On the back of that triumph, Theerathon signed on permanent terms with Marinos.

Bunmathan now returns to Buriram, where he played a meaningful role in regular success from 2009 to 2016.