Vegalta Sendai on Thursday announced their tentative agreement for Funabashi High School talent Keiya Shiihashi to join the club in 2016.

The 18-year-old midfielder led his team to a runners-up finish during the summer’s National Interscholastic Athletic Meet.

“I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way and I want to work hard in order to play for Vegalta as soon as possible,” Shiihashi commented through the club.

The youngster is seen as a long-term alternative to the likes of Takuya Nozawa and Ryang Yong-Gi, who are both in the twilights of their careers.

Vegalta succumbed 3-1 to Urawa Reds in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League on Saturday, leaving them second from bottom in the second stage standings.