The New York Cosmos announced today that the team has agreed to a loan with Shimizu S-Pulse of Japan’s J.League for 20-year-old forward Satoru Kashiwase. With this agreement, Kashiwase becomes the youngest native Japanese player to ever sign with a North American soccer club.
“This is definitely a special opportunity for our soccer club, to bring a young talent like Satoru to the U.S.,” head coach Giovanni Savarese said. “He is a very technically gifted goal-scorer and we’re excited to be a part of his developmental process.”
Kashiwase is a 6’0 forward from Chiba, Japan, who is set to make his debut on American soil Aug. 3, when the Cosmos open their reboot season in the NASL at Hofstra University. Last season, in his first year as a professional, Kashiwase played for Shimizu S-Pulse, one of the top teams in the J.League. During its 22-year history, Shimizu has made 10 cup final appearances, winning both the Emperor’s Cup (2001) and the League Cup (1996). Shimizu has also won the Japanese Super Cup twice and the Asian Cup Winners Cup once. Internationally, Kashiwase has represented Japan at the U-17 and U-18 national team levels.
“I am very happy and proud to become part of the New York Cosmos,” Kashiwase said. “I am going to work hard to be recognized and aim to become an established player here in New York. I truly hope that I can develop not only as a player, but also as a person here with the Cosmos. I also want to thank the Shimizu S-Pulse organization, the fans, and everybody who supported me. Everything has been great and I’ve enjoyed training here every day. I am going to do my best so that I can show you all that I’ve developed my game.”
The Cosmos also agreed to terms with 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder Paulo Mendes. A 6’0” native of Goiania, Brazil, Mendes played for the Atlanta Silverbacks during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
