Via an exit clause
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VfL Wolfsburg strengthens its offensive with Kento Shiogai (20), a striker who scored more goals in the first half of the season for his NEC club Nijmegen than any Wolves striker, and almost exclusively as a wild card. According to reports, the purchase was made possible thanks to an exit clause. The Japanese, who has a contract until 2030, would have left his Dutch club for an amount much lower than that paid by VfL for the signing of striker Mohamed Amoura (26).
The VfL had only paid a few times more for players under the age of 20 than they do today for Shiogai. Several media outlets had estimated the amount required at just under 10 million euros. In the past, Lower Saxony paid 10 million or even a little more for strikers in Shiogai’s age group, Josip Brekalo (2016/17), Landry Dimata (2017/18) and Jakub Kaminski (22/23). Amoura’s transfer from Union SG to Belgium cost almost 18 million euros, including loan fees. In the current championship round, the Algerian has scored six goals this season.
So far, Shiogai has managed to surpass that of Nijmegen. In the league and cup, the Japanese youth international has scored nine goals this season until the end of 2025. Wolfsburg’s shooting star in recent weeks, Dzenan Pejcinovic (20), has eight goals in competition. The Munich native, who has scored just five league goals in his last three matches, is currently injured. Last weekend in the 1-1 draw against Heidenheim we missed him a lot given the form he had shown previously.
Given that there was recent media speculation that Pejconovic would be forced to take a longer break, Shiogai’s arrival was high time. For the Tokyo native, Wolfsburg is the second stop outside Japan. Nijmegen signed him in 2024 after his time at Keio University. The NEC could not prevent the player, who was effectively tied up until 2028, from saying goodbye due to the exit clause.
“Kento is a young and talented player who has a lot of potential,” Wolfsburg sporting director Pirmin Schwegler said in a club statement. « He is characterized on the pitch by his speed, intensity and strong pressing and has qualities that suit VfL Wolfsburg very well. We are happy that we were able to convince him to come to VfL and we will help him find his way in his new environment and in the Bundesliga as quickly as possible. »