Reims set to sign Japanese winger Keito Nakamura | OneFootball

L’Équipe report that Reims are closing in on the signing of Japanese winger Keito Nakamura from Austrian side Linz ASK, with the Champagne side having beaten Lille as well as several German clubs to the 23-year-old.

The Ligue 1 side have reached an agreement with the Japanese international’s current club, where he had been playing since 2021 and was under contract until the end of the upcoming campaign.

The former Gamba Osaka man is expected to see his move finalisted in the next few hours. Nakamura, who scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, will be linking up at Reims with a compatriot in Junya Ito, who plays on the opposite wing.

According to reports last month, Lille had been close to reaching the Austrians’ asking price for the wide man, but still needed to free up a non-EU spot in the squad before the transfer could be finalised – in the meantime, Reims have moved ahead and completed a deal for around €10m.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin