Tokyo Verdy's youth international Yoshiaki Takagi is finalizing a transfer to Utrecht of the Dutch first division, it was learned Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Takagi played for Japan at the 2009 under-17 World Cup. He made his professional debut for Verdy in the J. League second division last season, appearing in 33 games and scoring five goals.
Takagi is the son of former star baseball player Yutaka Takagi, and his older brother, Toshiyuki, plays in the J. League top flight for Shimizu S-Pulse.