Leicester City are set to secure the services of Japanese striker Shinji Okazaki from German side 1. FSV Mainz 05 on a four-year deal, subject to work permit, international and Fifa clearance.
The 29-year-old forward arrives at King Power Stadium from the Bundesliga for an undisclosed fee and is set to become the Foxes’ third signing of the summer following additions of Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs.
Regarded as one of the finest forwards in the German league, Okazaki brings with him an exciting and explosive playing style alongside an impressive international pedigree.
His 43 goals in just 93 games for Japan make him his nation’s third all-time record goalscorer, while his 12 league goals for Mainz last season also saw him become the Bundesliga’s all-time leading Japanese scorer.
Okazaki has been a popular figure among supporters wherever he has played thanks in part to both his ability to score spectacular goals and his outstanding work ethic on behalf of his team.
With his appetite to chase lost causes and an adept heading ability that defies his 5ft 8ins frame, the Japanese international appears ready-made for an assault on defences in the Premier League this coming season.
After representing Japan Under-23s in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, Okazaki soon established himself as a first choice striker for his country thanks to some polished performances at centre forward.
Those displays soon brought with them his first Japanese goal in 2009 against Yemen. It was a year in which Okazaki scored a remarkable 15 times for his country – including back-to-back hat-tricks against Hong Kong and Togo.
Another hat-trick for Japan in their 2011 Asian Cup campaign came in between the 2010 and 2014 World Cups – both of which Okazaki played and scored in for his country.
At club level things began for Okazaki back in Japan with J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse, with whom he signed his first professional contract in 2005. After making his debut at the age of 19 he went on to score 49 goals in 154 games for the Club before his talents caught the eye of clubs in Europe.
It was Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart who eventually made their move for the striker in January 2011 and Okazaki was thrown straight into the action with an impressive debut in the Europa League against Portuguese giants Benfica.
A stunning long-range goal against Hannover 96 opened his account for his new club and an even more impressive bicycle kick against the same side earned him the league’s Goal of the Month Award in February 2012.
After a move to Mainz in 2013 he exploded onto the scene for his new side. He ended his first season with an impressive 15 goals to help the team to a seventh placed finish and Europa League qualification. That total included an emphatic strike on his debut during a 3-2 victory over former club Stuttgart.
His form in front of goal continued last season with 12 Bundesliga goals that helped steer Mainz to an 11th placed finish – just six points away from European qualification.
When he makes his Premier League debut for the Foxes he will become just the seventh Japanese player ever to play in the Premier League.
The 29-year-old forward arrives at King Power Stadium from the Bundesliga for an undisclosed fee and is set to become the Foxes’ third signing of the summer following additions of Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs.
Regarded as one of the finest forwards in the German league, Okazaki brings with him an exciting and explosive playing style alongside an impressive international pedigree.
His 43 goals in just 93 games for Japan make him his nation’s third all-time record goalscorer, while his 12 league goals for Mainz last season also saw him become the Bundesliga’s all-time leading Japanese scorer.
Okazaki has been a popular figure among supporters wherever he has played thanks in part to both his ability to score spectacular goals and his outstanding work ethic on behalf of his team.
With his appetite to chase lost causes and an adept heading ability that defies his 5ft 8ins frame, the Japanese international appears ready-made for an assault on defences in the Premier League this coming season.
After representing Japan Under-23s in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, Okazaki soon established himself as a first choice striker for his country thanks to some polished performances at centre forward.
Those displays soon brought with them his first Japanese goal in 2009 against Yemen. It was a year in which Okazaki scored a remarkable 15 times for his country – including back-to-back hat-tricks against Hong Kong and Togo.
Another hat-trick for Japan in their 2011 Asian Cup campaign came in between the 2010 and 2014 World Cups – both of which Okazaki played and scored in for his country.
At club level things began for Okazaki back in Japan with J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse, with whom he signed his first professional contract in 2005. After making his debut at the age of 19 he went on to score 49 goals in 154 games for the Club before his talents caught the eye of clubs in Europe.
It was Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart who eventually made their move for the striker in January 2011 and Okazaki was thrown straight into the action with an impressive debut in the Europa League against Portuguese giants Benfica.
A stunning long-range goal against Hannover 96 opened his account for his new club and an even more impressive bicycle kick against the same side earned him the league’s Goal of the Month Award in February 2012.
After a move to Mainz in 2013 he exploded onto the scene for his new side. He ended his first season with an impressive 15 goals to help the team to a seventh placed finish and Europa League qualification. That total included an emphatic strike on his debut during a 3-2 victory over former club Stuttgart.
His form in front of goal continued last season with 12 Bundesliga goals that helped steer Mainz to an 11th placed finish – just six points away from European qualification.
When he makes his Premier League debut for the Foxes he will become just the seventh Japanese player ever to play in the Premier League.
