Ayumu Yokoyama faces ‘difficult’ Birmingham City reality after quickfire exit
Ayumu Yokoyama’s exit was the most eye-catching deal Birmingham City completed on transfer deadline day earlier this week.
The Japanese winger has found the going tough in League One and has only made 10 substitute appearances under Chris Davies, for a grand total of 163 minutes. Yokoyama was used more regularly in the cups, making six starts in the Vertu Trophy and FA Cup combined.
But that wasn’t enough to convince the 21-year-old to see out the remainder of the season in England and he pushed for a move to Belgium late in the window. Yokoyama has joined Belgian Pro League leaders Genk, but he will be stationed with their second string to begin with.
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Yokoyama was a topic of conversation on this week’s Keep Right On Podcast and Blues reporter Alex Dicken said: “It looked like an exceptional loan move going to Genk who are top of the Belgian Pro League, but Genk have revealed that he’s going to be with Jong Genk, which is their B team. It’s structured over there so the B team plays in a competitive league.
“It might be slightly more comfortable for Yokoyama over there because there are some Japanese players in the Genk squad. Obviously we’ve got Iwata here but the language barrier has been an issue so maybe it will be more comfortable for him.
“Belgium has been a route into Europe for Japanese players in recent years, Kaoru Mitoma obviously went there from Brighton before coming back here and doing well in the Premier League. Koji Miyoshi started there as well with Royal Antwerp.
“What we’ve said previously on this podcast still stands, I think it’s difficult for Yokoyama to force his way into a Championship squad when he hasn’t been able to get chances in a League One squad. Blues are probably travelling a little bit too quickly for Yokoyama at the moment.”
