Bielefeld officially snatch up Japanese talent Ritsu Doan
The twenty-two-year-old flexible attacker joins Sergio Cordova, Jacob Barrett Laursen, Mike van der Horn, and Christian Gebauer on the list of higher-value players acquired by the Ostwestfallen this Summer. The newly promoted side continues to bolster its roster for what will be a tough battle to remain in the first Bundesliga.
| Ritsu Doan. | Photo: El Loko Foto, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
“Ritsu is a crafty winger with great pace,” trainer Uwe Neuhaus wrote on the club’s website, “He possesses his own qualities both in front of goal and in build-ups. He can thus be used flexibly in the offensive [set-up]”
Doan transferred last season from FC Groenigen to PSV in a €7,5 million move. A breakthrough at PSV, however, was not forthcoming. He only scored two goals in 19 appearances. Doan’s strong desire to make the Japanese Olympic team in next Summer’s games left him seeking a club where he would receive more playing time.
“What I saw [from Bielefeld] in a few games last season impressed me,” Doan remarked “The prospect of playing in the Bundesliga was also an important factor in my decision.”
Doan can play on either flank and also serve as an anchoring midfielder. His German club has opted to favor him with the no. 8 jersey, at least tacitly implying that he will play even deeper in the attack.
