Hull City interested in Japan winger Nakamura
August 18, 2026 21:09
Hull City have emerged as a suitor for Japan winger Keito Nakamura, who plays for Stade de Reims. The 26-year-old started all four of Japan’s World Cup matches and is reportedly valued by Reims at £21.5m, a fee that has put some potential buyers off.
Nakamura wants a move to the Premier League after attracting prior interest from clubs including Everton, Bournemouth and Fulham. Hull, newly promoted and already active in the transfer market, have added 11 players this summer — including fellow Japan international Hidemasa Morita — and have spent an estimated £76m as they prepare for the top flight.
KEY CONTEXT
- Reims were relegated from the top tier and are now a French second-division club; the club’s stated asking price for Nakamura is said to be £21.5m.
- Nakamura established himself as Japan’s first-choice left winger at the World Cup after Kaoru Mitoma was sidelined with a hamstring issue; he scored once and provided an assist in the tournament and was named in Opta’s team of the group stage.
- The source lists two different goal tallies for his club form: one passage says he finished as Reims’ top scorer with 14 goals, while another reports he scored 11 goals in 32 Ligue 1 appearances in the 2024–25 season. Both figures are reported in the same article.
WHY IT MATTERS
- For Hull, signing Nakamura would add a pacey, versatile attacking option with recent international tournament form and commercial appeal — he has been described as one of Japan’s most marketable players and has growing off-field visibility through partnerships and fashion appearances.
- The reported valuation is a key obstacle: previous interest from other clubs produced offers reportedly up to £15.5m, short of Reims’ current asking price. How close Hull are prepared to get to that figure will influence whether this move can happen.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Will Hull meet Reims’ reported £21.5m valuation, or can they negotiate a lower fee given previous offers cited around £15.5m?
- Whether Nakamura’s preference to move to the Premier League aligns with Reims’ transfer strategy following relegation.
- Any competing interest from other clubs that could push a deal either way, and how Hull balance this potential signing with the 11 arrivals they have already completed this summer.
KEY FACTS
- Keito Nakamura is 26 and a Japan international who started all four of his country’s World Cup games.
- Reims are reported to value him at £21.5m; previous offers were said to have reached about £15.5m.
- Hull City have signed 11 players this summer, including Hidemasa Morita, with estimated spending of £76m.
- Nakamura was named in Opta’s team of the group stage at the World Cup; he recorded one goal and one assist in the tournament.
- The article reports both that he finished as Reims’ leading scorer with 14 goals and that he scored 11 goals in 32 Ligue 1 appearances in 2024–25.