TOKYO, July 12 — Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign emerging Japanese talent Hiroki Abe from Kashima Antlers, the J-League club said today.
The 20-year-old attacker, named the league’s best young player of 2018, was set to undergo a medical with the Spanish side and would join up with their ‘B’ side.
Financial details were not released but earlier reports said Barca would pay around €2 million (RM9.3 million) for Abe, who made his senior international debut at the Copa America and appeared in all three of their matches.
“It was a difficult decision to leave (Kashima) mid-season, but I chose to make the move because I absolutely want to take on this new challenge at Barcelona,” Kyodo news agency quoted Abe as saying in a statement. — Reuters
