Transfer Tracker

Report: FC Cincinnati set to sign Japanese striker Yuya Kubo from Gent

Yuya Kubo - celebrates a goal for Nurnberg

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report


FC Cincinnati are set to sign Japanese forward Yuya Kubo from Belgium club KAA Gent to a Designated Player contract, The Athletic's Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal reported Monday.


The 26-year-old is reportedly traveling to Cincinnati this week to finalize the deal.


Kubo started his professional career with Kyoto Sanga after moving up from the club’s youth ranks in 2011.


Two years later he moved to Swiss side Young Boys, where he scored 26 goals in 104 appearances before his transfer to Gent in 2017. His impact there was immediate with five goals in his first seven appearances.


Kubo was loaned to German Bundesliga club Nurnberg for the 2018-19 season, scoring just once in 22 league appearances.


The Japanese international has three goals and two assists across all competitions for Gent this year, but has yet to find the scoresheet in six league matches.


Kubo has represented Japan at all youth levels from U-16 to U-23 and has 13 caps for the Samurai Blue, scoring twice. He last played for Japan in international friendlies against Mali and Ukraine in March 2018.


The report also indicates FC Cincinnati are looking to add a second DP this offseason — an attacking midfielder — citing a source.