Takahara joins Hamburg

Japan striker Naohiro Takahara has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with German first division Hamburg SV, the club's official website reported on Monday.

The 23-year-old, who missed this year's World Cup through illness but finished as top scorer in Japan with Japanese champions Jubilo Iwata, will join the German Bundesliga side on January 4.

"Takahara will play for HSV for two and a half years, but we also have the option to extend his contract for another year," HSV president Ronald Wulff said in a statement.

Wulff and HSV sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer had spent nine hours negotiating with Jubilo club officials at a hotel in Osaka.

Takahara, who won the J-League player of the year award a week ago, scored 26 goals in 27 league appearances to help Jubilo become the first side to win both stages in a J-League season.

The Japanese striker, who was released by Argentine club Boca Juniors halfway through a seven-month loan deal last season, becomes the eighth current Japan international playing in Europe.