Zion Suzuki, a Japanese goalie with maternal Ghanaian ancestry, is allegedly close to signing with English Premier League team Manchester United.
Zion Suzuki was born in Arkansas, USA, in 2003. His parents are an Ewe from Ghana and a Japanese man.
Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils have been keeping tabs on the Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper for the past six years, and they have finally made an official offer of £5 million.
Japanese news outlet Sponichi Annex broke the story on United’s interest in Suzuki, who the team has been keeping an eye on since 2017.
If the transaction is finalized, it would exceed the £4.5 million Celtic paid for Kyogo Furuhashi in 2021 as the highest transfer price ever for a J League team.
Suzuki has represented Japan at several youth levels, but he hasn’t competed for his country at the senior level yet.
He began his professional career with Urawa in 2018 at the age of 16, however he has only made eight J League games, mostly as Shusaku Nishikawa’s backup.
Andre Onana of Inter Milan has been the target of Manchester United’s pursuit in the past, but discussions have proven challenging due to budgetary limitations.
Suzuki, available at $5 million, satisfies the Red Devils’ need for a bargain with a rumored summer budget of £100 million.
Manchester United needs new goalkeepers due to the departure of David De Gea and the uncertainty surrounding Dean Henderson’s future.
Suzuki could be thought of as a player for the future, but his possible arrival might bring long-term stability to the team’s goalkeeping division.
