Ryunosuke Sato targets Valencia in a deal close to 4 million

At Mestalla they are moving cautiously, but the signing has entered a decisive phase. According to journalist Kazu Kaikuchi, Ryunosuke Sato would travel to Valencia to undergo the medical tests before finalizing his move to the club.

Radio MARCA Valencia confirmed that from Valencia they do not consider the deal done, although they do admit that talks are very advanced. The figure being discussed is close to 4 million euros.

A young signing with room for the first team

Sato currently plays for the FC Tokyo and mainly operates as a left winger, although he can also play in several positions in midfield and attack. A right-footed player standing 1.71 metres tall and only 19 years old, he fits the profile Ron Gourlay, the club's Football CEO, was looking for: a player with the ability to integrate into the first-team setup without taking up one of the 25 professional squad spots.

This status as a U-23 player is important for Valencia's sporting planning, especially in a transfer window shaped by the long-term absence of Diego López. The Spanish forward, who has undergone surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, is not expected to return until the spring of 2027.

The move would be Mestalla's first signing of the summer for the 2025-26 season, after the January arrivals of Justin de Haas and Aliou Dieng.

In the final stretch of the negotiations, Feyenoord also emerged as a relevant option. Reports from the market and from Dutch media pointed to a proposal from the Rotterdam club, although Sato himself would have ultimately leaned towards the Valencia route.

With no official confirmation yet from the clubs, the agreement remains pending the medical check and the signing. Since the start of the 2026 calendar year, Sato has played 19 La Liga matches for FC Tokyo, with a record of six goals and one assist.