Football: Dutch club Sparta add Japanese midfielder Mito

Dutch first-division football club Sparta Rotterdam on Thursday announced the acquisition of Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Mito, who won the J-League's best young player award this year.

The 21-year-old plans to join Sparta on Jan. 2 from Albirex Niigata, on a contract that runs until 2028.

Compatriot Koki Saito is also on the Rotterdam-based team. Both Mito and Saito are on Japan's Under-22 national team bidding to qualify for next summer's Paris Olympics.

© Kyodo News