Bundesliga clubs Freiburg and Borussia Monchengladbach have added three Japanese players this summer, with Rihito Yamamoto, Keisuke Goto and Zento Uno joining Germany's top flight in completed moves.
Bundesliga.com published the latest overview on June 19, reporting that Yamamoto and Goto have moved to Freiburg while Uno has joined Borussia Monchengladbach. The league site framed the moves as part of a wider increase in Japanese players arriving in the Bundesliga.
Freiburg Add Yamamoto And Goto
Yamamoto, a 24-year-old defensive midfielder, joined Freiburg from Sint-Truiden in Belgium. Bundesliga.com listed him with 18 Japan U23 caps and said he made 38 appearances for Sint-Truiden in 2025-26, producing five goals and six assists.
His route to Germany also runs through Tokyo Verdy, Gamba Osaka and Japan's Olympic setup. Bundesliga.com noted that Yamamoto scored twice at the 2024 Paris Olympics and captained Japan against Israel.
Freiburg also completed the signing of Goto from Belgian club Anderlecht. Bundesliga.com described him as a 21-year-old striker and part of Japan's 2026 World Cup squad.
Goto spent last season on loan at Sint-Truiden, where the league site credited him with 10 goals and five assists in 28 league appearances. He had joined Anderlecht in 2024 and also scored 13 goals in 31 appearances for RSCA Futures in Belgium's second tier.
Gladbach Secure Uno Through 2030
Uno gives Borussia Monchengladbach another Japanese international in midfield. Bundesliga.com reported that the 22-year-old defensive midfielder has joined Gladbach on a contract through 2030 after playing for Machida Zelvia and Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan.
The source listed Uno with two senior Japan caps and said he made his international debut in July 2025 at the East Asian Championship. Gladbach head of sport Rouven Schroder described him as defensively minded, tactically disciplined and strong in the tackle.
The common thread is roster planning rather than one single headline fee. Freiburg have added a midfielder and a striker from Belgium, while Gladbach have locked in a young defensive midfielder for a long runway.
Bundesliga.com reported there were 15 Japanese players in Germany's top division during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, with only Austria, France and Denmark better represented among foreign nations. These new moves keep that pipeline active before the summer window fully accelerates.