PETALING JAYA: A birthday to remember, Dion Cools is heading to Japan.
On the day he turned 29, the Malaysian international marked a major milestone in his career by signing with J-League 1 side Cerezo Osaka, making him the first Malaysian to secure a contract in Japan’s top-tier football league.
Having spent the last two seasons with Thai giants Buriram United, Cools now embarks on a fresh challenge in one of Asia’s most competitive football environments, an inspiring leap not just for himself, but for Malaysian football as a whole.
“I’m truly happy to have the opportunity to come to Japan and Osaka, and I’m very grateful for this chance,” said Cools in a statement issued by the club.
“I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates, the staff, and all the fans and supporters as soon as possible. I will give my all to help the team win as many games as possible and achieve our goals.
“Thank you for your support.”
Cools will report to Cerezo after completing national team duty in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifier against Vietnam at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10.
His arrival could not come at a better time for the Sakuras, who currently sit eighth in the J-League with 29 points, just five behind the top three.
They’ve conceded 26 goals in 20 matches, and Cools’ defensive solidity and attacking prowess down the right flank could offer the balance the team need to climb further up the table.
Though several Malaysians have previously featured in Japan’s J2 and J3 leagues, including Luqman Hakim Shamsudin (YSSC Yokohama), Muhammad Abu Khalil (FC Osaka), and Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak (Fagiano Okayama and Azul Claro Numazu), Cools is the first to break into the elite J1 division.
His move will no doubt please national head coach Peter Cklamovski, who has long championed the idea that Japan provide the ideal proving ground for ambitious players, those ready to stretch their limits in pursuit of excellence.
And Cools, it seems, is ready to do just that, raising the bar for Malaysian footballers and carving a trail into Japan’s top flight that others may now dare to follow.
AloJapan.com