Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita signed with Hull City this Friday after leaving Sporting at the end of his contract, securing a deal with the Premier League side for the next two seasons.
It is now official: Hidemasa Morita is a Hull City player. The English club announced the signing this Friday, following his decision not to renew his contract with Sporting at the end of last season.
The club—which won the Championship playoff final to earn promotion to the Premier League—handed the Japanese midfielder a two-year contract, tying him to the “Tigers” until 2028.
There is also an option for the player to stay for an additional season, though that decision rests entirely with Hull City’s management.
The transfer was completed on a free transfer, taking advantage of the fact that the Japanese international allowed his contract with Sporting to expire after four seasons with the club.
Having missed out on the World Cup squad last summer due to the Japan national team manager’s decision, Morita had previously been heavily linked to Leeds United while still at Sporting. That move to the “Peacocks” never materialized, nor did a transfer to Ipswich Town—another Premier League side—which had joined the race for the Japanese player in recent weeks.
At 31 years old, Morita embarks on his third stint playing outside Japan, following spells at Santa Clara (two seasons) and Sporting (four years at Alvalade). And for an interesting twist: the Japanese midfielder’s official Premier League debut will be against Manchester United—home to Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, the latter also a former Sporting player.
