2. Bundesliga
Kon'nichiwa, Akiyama!
Darmstadt have completed a season-long loan deal for Hiroki Akiyama with an option to buy the Albirex Niigata midfielder.
Akiyama has made almost 160 appearances across Japan's top three leagues, including 15 in last season's J1 League for his parent club.
The 24-year-old has already linked up with his new Darmstadt teammates at their pre-season training camp in Bad Wörishofen, Bavaria.
"I'm happy to be able to play in Germany from now on. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the transfer and made it possible," Akiyama said following confirmation of the move.
"I've read a lot about Darmstadt recently and I'm looking forward to playing for a club with a lot of tradition and great fans. My goal is to help the team as much as possible to play a successful season."
Darmstadt sporting director Paul Fernie praised Akiyama's "many qualities" as a central midfielder, saying he has "the potential to become an interesting piece in the Darmstadt puzzle."
Relegated from the Bundesliga at the end of 2023/24, Darmstadt finished 12th on their return to the second tier last term, seven points clear of the relegation zone and 16 adrift of the promotion places.
The Lilies kick-off their new season with a home game against Bochum on 2 August.