Only played regional league
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Left winger Masaya Okugawa and FC Augsburg are going their separate ways after a year and a half. As the Fuggerstadt team confirmed on Thursday, the 28-year-old is moving back to his home country to his youth club Kyoto Sanga with immediate effect. He came to Europe to join Red Bull Salzburg from the Japanese first division club in 2015.
Okugawa moved from East Westphalia to FCA on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 after Arminia Bielefeld was relegated from the Bundesliga. The professional then only played 30 minutes of playing time spread over two appearances for the first team. He spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at second division club Hamburger SV, although he only made eight short appearances there. Okugawa had been set back several times in the past by injuries to his knee and thigh. In the current season, he played eight games in the Augsburg regional league team and contributed three scorers.
Okugawa’s contract with the Bundesliga club would have been valid until 2027, and the clubs have agreed not to disclose the transfer terms upon his return to Japan, the FCA said. “Unfortunately, Masaya was repeatedly thwarted by injuries that prevented him from reaching his full potential at FCA. Now he has come to us with the desire to return to Japan after ten years in Europe and find sporting stability again. That’s why we made the move possible for him and wish him all the best for his sporting and private future and an injury-free time in his home country,” explained sports director Marinko Jurendic.
The player himself said goodbye: “Although my time at FC Augsburg didn’t go as I had imagined, I am very grateful to all the fans who supported me through thick and thin. Now I’m making a new start in Japan. Even if we now go our separate ways, I wish FC Augsburg all the best with all my heart.”
