Yutaro Oda won’t be the last player Hearts sign from Japan if things go well.
The former Vissel Kobe forward arrived at Tynecastle on Tuesday to pen a three-and-a-half year deal with the Jambos. After signing Ryotaro Meshino on loan from Manchester City immediately after his switch from Gamba Osaka back in 2019, the capital club have looked to the Far East for a new recruit once again, this time on a long term contract.
Having enjoyed success signing players from Australia, Robbie Neilson admits that Japan is a market they’ll look to plunder further if all goes well with their latest addition, citing affordability and a real desire to make it in Europe as key factors in bringing in new faces from that part of the world. “I think people are more aware of it now, but it’s similar to the Australian market,” said Neilson. “We’ve brought a few players in from there.
“Players firstly that are affordable to come in, which is important for us. Secondly they’re very hungry to come to Europe and they want to do well.
“Bringing Oda in will potentially be the first of one or two. It’s a market we look at. We look at the Australian market and players from there have done well for us. If Oda comes in and does well, then it’s a market we’ll continue to look at.”
The settling in process is already underway for the new recruit, but Neilson has urged patience, meaning involvement against St Mirren on Friday may be unlikely. The club are pulling out all the stops to ensure the transition from his homeland is as smooth as possible.
“It will take time and that’s why we’ve got to be patient with him,” Neilson explained. “We’ve got to make sure that firstly, then he takes to the pitch, he’s ready to take to the pitch.
“We’ve got an interpreter at the moment. He came in yesterday and has already seen a flat to stay in and is going to be with most of the players in that kind of area, so he’ll be able to bed in a wee bit.
“We’re just trying to help him adapt to a new culture and a new side of the world. I think it will take a little bit of time, but he’s a football player and what he does on the pitch is the most important thing. We just have to help him with that.”
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