BERLIN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- SC Freiburg has signed Japanese striker Keisuke Goto from Belgian side RSC Anderlecht, adding another attacking option as the Bundesliga club continues its summer transfer activity, Freiburg announced on Thursday.
The 21-year-old, who stands 1.91 meters tall, arrives after a spell in Belgium that included a loan season at VV St. Truiden, where he scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 28 Jupiler Pro League appearances.
Goto joined Anderlecht on loan from his boyhood club Jubilo Iwata in January 2024 before the Belgian club made the move permanent later that year.
He was used mainly by Anderlecht's reserve side, RSCA Futures, scoring 13 goals in 31 matches before moving on loan to St. Truiden.
Freiburg has agreed not to disclose contract details, although German media reports said the transfer fee was around 10 million euros (11.5 million U.S. dollars), taking the club's summer spending to 29 million euros.
The move follows the arrivals of Japanese midfielder Rihito Yamamoto from St. Truiden and goalkeeper Mio Backhaus from Werder Bremen, making Goto Freiburg's third signing of the summer.
"With Keisuke, we have been able to bring in an exciting player with interesting qualities," Freiburg board member Jochen Saier said. "His bold style of play will do us good."
"He likes to attack depth, has a good sense of space and also the instinct for how to behave in the penalty area," Saier added. "He will certainly need time for integration and further development, and he will get it."
Goto said Freiburg's long-standing interest convinced him to join the club.
"SC Freiburg had already been very interested in me a few months ago," he said. "From the beginning, I felt that the people in charge really wanted me, and that was one of the main reasons why I decided on Freiburg."
"I also watched several matches in the Europa League. For me, this is a big club, and I am very much looking forward to the coming season."
Goto is expected to provide cover in the center-forward role alongside Igor Matanovic, while Lucas Holer can also play through the middle.
Freiburg finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season with 47 points from 34 matches, scoring 51 goals and conceding 57.
