More big leaguers~ 190cm in positive negotiations with Japan's Kim Min-jae and Hoffenheim

Jun 14, 2025

More big leaguers 190cm in positive negotiations with Japan's Kim Min-jae and Hoffenheim



Japanese national defender Koki Machida (28, Winion) is set to advance to the European big league.

On the 13th (local time), the Belgian club Winion and Hoffenheim in Germany are negotiating over Machida's transfer. According to the media, there is a 'detailed and positive negotiation' between Hoffenheim and Machida.

Machida is a native of Kashima Antlers, who challenged the European stage by joining Winion in 2022. Machida played 45 games in the 2023-2024 season as a key center back for Winion, leading his team to win the Belgian Cup for the first time in 110 years, and played 49 games in the 2024-2025 season, leading Winion to win the Belgian professional league for the first time in 90 years.




Hoffenheim, who remained in 15th place narrowly with the second-most goals lost in the German Bundesliga last season, seems to have approached Machida for the purpose of strengthening the defense.

More big leaguers 190cm in positive negotiations with Japan's Kim Min-jae and Hoffenheim
Machida is 1m 90t tall and boasts a powerful defense. In addition, it is a rare left-footed centre-back. He was selected as Japan's representative in September 2023 and has played 17 A matches so far.

Currently, Machida's market value has soared to 11 million euros (about 17 billion won, based on transfer marks).




Currently, numerous Japanese players are active in the Bundesliga. Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich) is sharing a meal with Kim Min-jae and Kaishu Sano (Mainz) with Lee Jae-sung. Doan Ritz (Freiburg), Itakura Co., Fukuda Shio (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Machino Shuto (Holstein Kiel), and Masaya Okugawa (Auxburg) played in the Bundesliga last season.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.