Eintracht Frankfurt have signed Japan international Ritsu Doan from Bundesliga rivals SC Freiburg. The 27-year-old attacker, who will play in the No.20 shirt in Frankfurt, began his footballing career at Gamba Osaka. He first moved overseas in 2017, and ended up spending four seasons in the Netherlands, making a total of 130 appearances for Groningen and PSV Eindhoven, scoring 29 goals and setting up another 13.
He got his first taste of the Bundesliga during a loan spell with Arminia Bielefeld, helping them to avoid relegation during the 2020/21 season with five goals and three assists.
In summer 2022, he was picked up by Freiburg, and it was there that he matured into one of the pillars of the Bundesliga. In 123 matches for SCF, he scored 26 goals and added another 23 assists. Last season alone, he scored 10 and set up eight more, helping his club to qualify for Europe.
We’re delighted that Ritsu has signed with us.
Board member for sport Markus Krösche.
Doan has also established himself in the Japan national team. Since making his debut in 2018, he has won 57 caps, scoring ten goals and assisting on a further nine.
“Ritsu Doan has proved his real quality over recent years in the Bundesliga and brings with him the type of skills that will help up achieve our goals,” said board member for sport Markus Krösche. He has gained plenty of international experience in a Japan jersey and his technique, speed and mindset certainly made him stand out in recent years when he was at Freiburg. We’re delighted that Ritsu has signed with us.”
