Mainz unveil Sano: "Looking forward to thrilling like my Japanese predecessors."

Kaishu Sano's rumored move to top division Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 is officially through. The Rheinhessen officially unveiled the 23-year-old Japanese national team midfielder on Wednesday evening. Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that Mainz have paid Sano's J-League club team Kashima Antler's a transfer fee of €2.5 million for the four-times capped international. 

After Austrian midfielder Nikolas Veratschnig and FC Bayern München (purchased back from SpVgg Greuther Fürth) striker Armindo Sieb, Sano constitutes Mainz's third summer signing. Kicker reporter Michael Ebert reports that the base transfer fee can increase beyond €3 million if certain performance-based bonuses are met. 

"Kaishu Sano will strengthen our midfield with his ball security, his technical ability, his running strength and his fighter's mentality," Mainz sporting CEO Christian Heidel noted in a club statement, " For him, the move to Mainz is the first step out of his Japanese homeland and onto the international footballing stage. Mainz 05 is the ideal club for this and we will support Kaishu both on and off the pitch to develop his full potential here in the Bundesliga."

"Mainz 05 took a close look at me as a player and not only saw my strengths, but also the potential in my development," Sano himself added, "It has always been my dream to play football abroad. The Bundesliga is something very special in Japan."

"I played against Yoshinori Muto on Sunday and I hope to meet Shinji Okazaki [two ex-Mainzers] in the next few weeks," Sano continued, "Now I'm looking forward to thrilling the Mainz fans just as much as my Japanese compatriots who played here before me."