There is a possibility that Japanese national team forward Keito Nakamura, who plays for Stade Reims in France’s second division, will transfer to Feyenoord. It is thought that he will play alongside forward Kiyo Ueda, but there is also a possibility that he will become teammates with midfielder Daichi Kamata (Crystal Palace) and midfielder Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton). Reports of unpaid wages from Reims’ sponsor, Yasuda Group Co., Ltd., also appear to be influencing the athlete’s departure.
On the 21st, Dutch magazine “1908.nl” featured Feyenoord’s reinforcement strategy. When introducing the wing as a reinforcement position, the report said, “Feyenoord is targeting Nakamura and three other players.” This is what he says about the Japanese national team player who plays for Reims.
“Nakamura, 25, is no stranger to the Eredivisie. In the 2019/20 season, the Japanese left-winger was already on loan at FC Twente. Then, at LASK Linz (Austria), he developed into an attacker with elegant technique and solid results. He scored 20 goals in 54 appearances in the Austrian First Division. His performances led to a move to Stade Reims.”
“He also proved that he was more than just a flashy wide attacker in France. He scored 11 goals in Ligue 1 for a side that ultimately suffered relegation. Surprisingly, with 22 caps for Japan, he never got the chance to progress further. He has scored seven goals in 13 appearances in France’s second division this season.
“That’s exactly what’s interesting for Feyenoord. There is no doubt about Leo Sauer’s potential, but the burden of shouldering the role left by Igor Paixaon alone is too heavy for him at the moment. Nakamura could help share that heavy responsibility. This creative player combines decisiveness, experience and future sale value. For Feyenoord, signing Nakamura is not just a temporary fix, but an addition that will stabilize the current team without hindering their future vision.
Nakamura remained with Reims, although he was moving towards a transfer in the summer of 2025 following Reims’ relegation to the second division. However, from December 2025 onwards, the German “Husvall Minister” will report an interest from Palace, and the British media “Football Insider” will report an interest from Brighton. There are also rumors that he could be transferred to Trabzonspor, Türkiye’s first division.
On the other hand, regarding the Yasuda Group, the Reims chest logo was missing during the French second division league match held on January 3rd. France’s Reims VDT reported, “The Yasuda Group has not fulfilled its contract with the club.It has not yet paid its debts (sponsorship fees, etc.),” explaining why the “YASUDA GROUP” logo was not printed on the club.
Some sources have reported that the reason behind Nakamura’s decision to stay in the summer of 2025 is that “Reims rejected offers from Besiktas and Villarreal after receiving pressure from his sponsor, the Yasuda Group.” It will be interesting to see if he will play alongside Japanese players in his new home.
