Nakata relishing challenge
ByReuters
Published 16/08/2005 at 11:12 GMT
Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata has joined Bolton Wanderers on a year's loan from Fiorentina, the Premier League club confirmed. The paperwork on the deal will be finalised once the Italian FA has passed on his international clearance certificate.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
However the 28-year-old playmaker has obtained a British work permit and has passed a medical at Bolton.
He will be presented at a press conference on Thursday, but told the club's website on Tuesday: "I am very pleased to begin a new experience in the Premier League."
"I look forward to being part of Bolton Wanderers and to start playing in a season that will be very important for the team and for myself." he added.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has a reputation of signing big name internationals who have seen their form wane in recent years.
"Hidetoshi is a player I admire," Allardyce said. "He is an exciting acquisition for us and will add much needed strength to our midfield."
"We will have something like 14 nationalities in the dressing room with Nakata and five different religions. There will be a fantastic menu in the canteen" he joked.
Japan's best-known player and former Asian Footballer of the Year has spent the last seven years in Italy after joining Perugia from J League side Bellmare Hiratsuka in 1998.
Nakata moved to Roma in 2000 for 13 million pounds ($23.54 million) and was part of the side that clinched the Serie A title in 2001.
The following season Parma paid 18 million pounds ($32.59 million) for him but he failed to impress and was shipped on to Bologna in 2004 for six months before joining Fiorentina.
Nakata has earned 66 international caps and featured in their Confederations Cup side in Germany in June.
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