Leo Kokubo: Japanese-born Nigerian goalkeeper ends six-year association with Benfica 

Japanese-born Nigerian player Leo Kokubo has ended his six-year association with Portuguese giants Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

On Thursday, the 38-time Portuguese top-flight champions announced via their official website that the goalkeeper will continue his career in Belgium.

Benfica have reached an agreement with Pro League side Sint-Truidense V.V. for the permanent transfer of  Leo Kokubo.

He arrived at Benfica Campus in 2018/19, as an Under-19, and immediately joined the Benfica U23 team, where he made 54 appearances.

Kokubo is credited with 25 appearances for Benfica B in the Liga Sabseg, equivalent of Portuguese second division, posting four clean sheets and was in the U19 team that lost the final of the UEFA Youth League in August 2020.

He departs Benfica without making his senior debut, though he received ten call-ups for first team games, including six in European competitions.

While awaiting the approval of his visa application, Kokubo is training individually in Sint-Truiden.

Next week, the goalkeeper will attend a training camp with Japan's U23 team ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. 

Kokubo has caps for Japan at U16, U18, U19, U21, U22 and U23 level and won the  AFC U-23 Asian Cup with the Olympic squad in May. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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