Tanaka Joins The Phoenix

Ardija fans might have been hoping for big news on Saturday about a major transfer deal that would make a significant impact on the team's defence for the 2009 season. Instead of a big star arriving at the club, however, what supporters got was news that Squirrels' 23-year-old right back Terukazu Tanaka has taken a loan deal at Yokohama FC. Ah well.

Tanaka, a former Japan U21 international, has never quite shaken off the tag of "promising young player" and over the two seasons that he has made appearances in the Omiya first team has broadly speaking failed to convince. Certainly last season coach Yasuhiro Higuchi chopped and changed between Tanaka and Yusuke Murayama, before eventually settling on rookie Taishi Tsukamoto as the best option on the right-hand side of the back four. Tanaka will therefore have seen his opportunities for first-team action for 2009 much reduced at Omiya and in re-joining Higuch at Yokohama has the chance to give his career a much-needed boost.

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