Sint Truiden bring in Japanese left back from Shonan Bellmare | OneFootball

Sint Truiden have announced the signing of Japanese left back Taiga Hata from J League side Shonan Bellmare. The 23-year-old is the sides eighth signing this summer and replaces Ryoya Ogawa, who left Belgium this summer to return to Japan and join Kashima Antlers. Sint Truiden have had plenty of success with J League talent in recent years and will be hoping Hata can step into the shoes of Ogawa, who performed well in the Pro League.

Hata made his debut for Shonan Bellmare back in 2020 and has gone on to make 149 appearances for the side. Hata has scored four goals in that time, as well as providing 12 assists. Three of those have come in the 24 appearances he has made so far during the 2025 J League season.

The Canaries and Hata will start their season against Gent, a game that see’s their current coach Wouter Vrancken up against the side he started the 2024/2025 campaign in charge of. The club are hoping that under Vrancken they will be able to avoid a bottom four finish this season.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson