‘I can’t wait to see what he can do’ – Yu Hirakawa makes history as he joins Bristol City

Yu Hirakawa became Bristol City’s second player of the summer and the club’s first Japanese player.

Announced at 8:00 16:00 Japan time, in a departure from the usual early evening confirmations, Hirakawa was joined by surprise J-League fans Machida Zelvia, initially on loan with a view to becoming permanent. The 23-year-old’s contract expires in January and Bristol Live understands that provided he settles in adequately over the next five months, he will become a full-time City player.

Hirakawa, pictured in the new away kit for 2024/25, underwent a medical at the High Performance Center on Monday and is scheduled to fly to Portugal to spend some time with his new team-mates before joining Japan’s Olympic squad for Paris. Games. The tournament begins on July 24, and the gold medal match will take place on August 9.

“We are very excited to see Yu become a Bristol City player,” said technical director Brian Tinnion. “It took some time to get the right deal right and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in a City Shirt. I would also like to thank Machida Zelvia for their professionalism and integrity in concluding the contract.”

A quick and dynamic winger capable of playing on the left or right, Hirakawa has risen through the ranks with Machida over the past three years, promoting to their ranks for the first time in 2023. Hirakawa has been a key. player in that run, he made 61 appearances and scored 11 goals during his time at the GION Stadium.

Capped at under-23 level by Japan, Hirakawa represents City’s widening scope in identifying players as the Robins look for value in the transfer market.

Striker Fally Mayulu has already signed from Rapid Vienna, while the Robins have been interested in Malian strikers Moussa Sylla and Lassine Sinayoko from French second division clubs Caen and Auxerre (now promoted to Ligue 1), and striker Sandro Kulenovic at Dinamo Zagreb, only to either be outbid or rejected.

City remain determined to add another striker and playmaker in this window with the hope that a deal can be struck to bring Scott Twine back to BS3. Reports linking the Robins with new Exeter City striker Mellenic Alli are not believed to be accurate as the 24-year-old is not on the Robins’ radar.

Coincidentally, Twine wore the number 7 shirt for City in the second half of last season, the same number Hirakawa wore for Machida Zelvia this season after graduating to the number 27 shirt in 2023.

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