Japan striker Shoji Jo has returned to his J. League first division club Yokohama F. Marinos after failing to find a place in Europe, the Yokohama side announced Saturday.
Jo, who has trained alone in Japan after finishing the Spanish season in May, will start training with the reserve team on Monday before moving on to practice with his old first-team members on Thursday.
His first game with the Marinos after his return is expected to be an exhibition match against Kashiwa Reysol on Oct. 22 in Kofu.
But Jo still has a strong desire to play in Europe, preferably at a Spanish first division club, and the Marinos will continue the club-hunting for the 25-year-old striker.
Jo was on loan to Valladolid in Spain and played in 15 matches scoring two goals earlier this year.
While Jo wanted to join the Spanish club on a permanent basis, Valladolid preferred to keep him on loan due to Jo's old knee-injury problem.
Marinos general manager Katsunori Nakamura has recently been to Europe for talks with a few clubs regarding Jo, but nothing panned out. Jo, capped 35 times so far, was recently left out of the Japan squad for the Asian Cup (Oct. 12-29 in Lebanon).