YOKOHAMA -- After a seemingly endless period of waiting, Yokohama F. Marinos and Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi finally landed a transfer deal with Portsmouth and will join the English Division One side on Oct. 21 after the two clubs reached a provisional agreement on Saturday morning.
"It hasn't really sunk in that I am moving," Kawaguchi said at a press conference on Saturday after his team's 1-1 extra-time draw against JEF United Ichihara at Yokohama International Stadium.
Marinos president Shigeo Hidaritomo said the details of the contract will be finalized before Kawaguchi's departure, when a representative from Portsmouth comes to Yokohama. But Portsmouth is to propose a contract through to the end of the 2004 English season. The deal also includes a friendly game between the two clubs next spring, said Hidaritomo.