Versatile Japanese star gains admirers

EARLIER this summer, after Ipswich lost 2-1 to Fortuna Dusseldorf in a friendly at Portman Road, Kieran McKenna was asked by the visiting media to choose one opposition player he’d sign for his team.

- Chris Dunlavy

“Easy,” said the Tractor Boys boss. “The midfielder, Ao Tanaka. Anyone who is serious about football will know a little about him. He has incredible technique.”

One man who knew all about Tanaka was Daniel Farke. The Leeds boss flagged the Japan international to the club’s recruitment team in the summer of 2023, but interest cooled following the signings of Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara.

When Kamara made a 10m euro move to Rennes in July, the deal was revived, and a release clause in Tanaka’s contract allowed Leeds to sign the 26-year-old on deadline day for £3.5m.

Initially consigned to substitute appearances, Tanaka had scant opportunity to justify McKenna’s praise.

But after injuries to Gruev and Ampadu provided a pathway to the starting XI, the midfielder made his third start of the season in last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United and fully lived up to his billing.

Starting alongside the equally impressive Joe Rothwell as double defensive pivots in Farke’s 4-2-3-1 system, Tanaka ran the show. Classy and composed, he was the perfect foil for the more dynamic Rothwell, controlling the tempo with his passing and preventing attacks through intelligent positioning.