St. Pauli Signs Japanese Defender Tomoya Ando

St. Pauli has officially announced the acquisition of Japanese center back Tomoya Ando from Avispa Fukuoka. The Bundesliga club did not disclose the transfer fee or the duration of Ando’s contract.

This transfer marks Ando’s first venture outside of Japan, following his recent promotion with Avispa Fukuoka to the J1 League. Although Ando has made strides in his career later than some, he boasts a record of four goals in the J1 League and has earned three caps for the Japanese national team.

According to Transfermarkt, Ando’s estimated market value is currently €1 million, which constitutes a career high for the player.

St. Pauli head coach Alexander Blessin praised Ando’s defensive skills in a club statement, stating, “With him, we are gaining a player who excels at anticipatory defending and frequently wins back the ball. He is versatile and possesses explosive acceleration that can pose a threat in attack.”

FC St. Pauli’s sporting director, Andreas Bornemann, expressed confidence in Ando’s ability to adapt quickly to the higher level of play, remarking, “In recent years, he has consistently adjusted to more competitive environments and developed into a national team player. We believe he can make an immediate impact for our team. Tomoya’s signing adds valuable flexibility to our defense, as he can play in all positions within the back three.”

In a brief statement, Ando remarked, “This is an important step in my career, and I believe now is the right time for this move.”