Urawa Reds midfielder Shinji Ono on Wednesday signed a new contract with the newly promoted J. League side, which includes a clause allowing the Japan international to move abroad in midseason, Urawa officials said.
While details of the new contract were not revealed, Urawa said that Ono, who has drawn interest from Europe in recent months, would be free to move abroad if a deal could be agreed on between the Saitama club and the interested party.
German soccer giant Borussia Dortmund expressed interest in the 21-year-old playmaker when Dortmund scout Horst Koeppel visited Japan in November, but a formal offer from the Bundesliga side has yet to be made.
Kazu closes deal
KOBE (Kyodo) J. League club Vissel Kobe formally announced the signing of veteran Japan international Kazuyoshi Miura on Wednesday, guaranteeing the journeyman striker first division soccer next season.
The 33-year-old Miura, who was released by Kyoto Purple Sanga at the end of last month following their relegation to J-2, signed a two-year contract and will be pulling on the No. 11 shirt for Kobe when the 2001 season kicks off March 10.
While financial details of the new pact were not revealed, soccer sources said that Miura, who netted 17 goals for Kyoto in J-1 this season, will earn an estimated annual salary of 60 million yen.
Miura in for Nanami
Veteran Japan striker Kazuyoshi Miura has been named to the J. League/K. League side that will take on a World XI in Yokohama next week as a replacement for Jubilo Iwata midfielder Hiroshi Nanami, who has a knee injury, officials said Wednesday.
Brazilian striker Romario and Argentine midfielder Ariel Ortega are among the World XI side which will play a joint squad from the 2002 World Cup cohosts Jan. 3 at International Stadium Yokohama.