Arsenal sign Japan striker Takuma Asano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Posted Sunday, July 03, 2016 by ESPN

Takuma Asano is set to represent Japan at the Rio Olympics.

Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Japanese striker Takumo Asano, with Arsene Wenger calling the 21-year-old a promising prospect for the future.

Arsenal announced the deal on their official website, saying the agreement with Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima is still subject to the completion of a medical and "regulatory processes."

However, Asano is unlikely to play a major role at the Emirates next season, with Wenger saying he still needs time to develop.

"Takuma is a talented young striker and very much one for the future," Wenger said. "He has had an impressive start to his career in Japan and we look forward to him developing over the next couple of years."

The club did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

Asano becomes Arsenal's second signing of the summer transfer window after midfielder Granit Xhaka joined from Borussia Monchengladbach before the start of Euro 2016.

However, Wenger is likely to continue his search for another striker who can have an immediate impact on the team after his forwards struggled to score for large parts of last season. The Gunners missed out on signing Jamie Vardy after the striker signed a new four-year contract with Leicester.

A source had told ESPN FC on Friday the Gunners were closing in on Asano, who had previously told Japanese media the London club had made contact. And the striker, who is expected to play for Japan at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, already seemed set on spending next season out on loan.

"If I am loaned elsewhere, my take on it is that I give it 100 percent," Asano was quoted as saying by Kyodo News on Thursday. "I was a little stunned [about the interest]. But I feel like I have the confidence to succeed wherever I go."

Nicknamed "The Jaguar," Asano helped Sanfrecce win the Japanese J.League title in 2015 by scoring nine goals in 34 appearances, while he has played five games for Japan and scored once.

Arsenal said "a number of clubs were after Takuma's signature."