Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Takumu Kawamura has left the J-League first-division club in preparation for a move to Europe, the team's manager, Michael Skibbe, said Saturday.
Skibbe explained the situation to reporters after Sanfrecce's 4-1 home win over Tokyo Verdy. A source with knowledge of the matter said the 24-year-old Kawamura appears headed to Austrian first-division side Red Bull Salzburg.
Kawamura, who made his national team debut in a January friendly against Thailand and scored, played the full 90 minutes against Verdy.
"I'm grateful the team so willingly let me go," Kawamura said after the game. I don't intend to come back easily. I want to struggle through difficulties and grow."
