The January transfer window is just around the corner as clubs begin to prepare to add to their squads.
Leicester City signed nine players in the summer window but, with a change of manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy will want to stamp his own mark on the squad.
Van Nistelrooy will be celebrating just over a month in charge of the Foxes by the time the transfer window opens on 1 January 2025 and will have a rough idea of where he needs improvement.
According to reports in Japan, Hiroki Sekine has been linked with Leicester and could make the move to England in the winter.
Wanted by clubs in Germany too, Sekine could be at the centre of a bidding war. Defence has been a problem for the Foxes this season and his addition may prove to be valuable in the quest for survival.
So, with that, here is everything you need to know about the latest winter transfer target.
Who is Hiroki Sekine?
Hiroki Sekine is a Japanese full-back currently playing for J1 League side Kashiwa Reysol.
Sekine has been a part of their first team since the start of the 2024 season, where he has established himself as the club’s first-choice right-back.
The defender has also played for Japan through the various age groups and represented his country at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He is yet to make his senior debut for Japan but was called up to the squad for their October international fixtures.
Hiroki Sekine date of birth, age, height, place of birth
Sekine was born on 11 August 2002, making him 22 at the time of writing.
He was born in the city of Shizouka and stands at six foot two inches, or 1.87m. This makes him one of the taller players in the team.
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What position does Hiroki Sekine play?
The 22-year-old traditionally plays as a right-back and has only ever been deployed from there.
How does Hiroki Sekine compare to Leicester’s current right-back options?
Sekine has played far more games than the Foxes’ current right-back options James Justin and Ricardo Pereira due to the Japanese league season starting at a different time.
Given that Pereira is out injured for the considerable future, Sekine would challenge Justin for that full-back slot.
| Player | Appearances (League) | Clean sheets | Interceptions (per game) | Tackles (per game) | Clearances (per game) | Sofascore rating |
| Hiroki Sekine | 30 | 5 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 7.02 |
| James Justin | 12 | 1 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 7.05 |
| Ricardo Pereira | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 6.50 |
Hiroki Sekine style of play
Sekine is a traditional full-back who thrives off ground duels and battling against defenders, regularly putting his foot in to make tackle.
One of the big problems at Leicester this season has been the consistency of players but in Sekine’s case, he is very unlikely to have a poor performance.
The 22-year-old does need to work on improving his long-ball range of passing as he often surrenders possession.
His physical presence means he is also well capable of challenging for balls in the air.