KAWASHIMA SIGNS | https://t.co/Ow5yfzq1Hf | #WEAREUNITED | pic.twitter.com/igtamsYBIz— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) December 29, 2015 Dundee United have secured, subject to international clearance, the signing of Japanese international goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima. The vastly experienced stopper joins the Club initially until the end of the season and will train with his new team mates upon his arrival in the UK in the next few days. He becomes the fourth major signing brought in by Head Coach Mixu Paatelainen as United pursue the clubs above them in the Ladbrokes Premiership. Eiji, who will wear the number 1 jersey for United, has starred for Japan at the 2010 and 2014 world cups and played 72 times for his national team. He has most recently played his club football for Standard Liège in Belgium, leaving there at the end of his three-year contract in the summer of 2015 http://dufc.co/news/kawashima-signing-secured/ As expected, it's a contract until the end of this season, and there might be an option for more based on maintaining the category.
Bwent on the other thread to update everyone but here we are! Finally signs for utd and is eligible for the huge Derby on Saturday against Dundee. Due to yet another mistake against Hearts on Wednesday I can see the manager taking a risk and throwing Eiji in whether he is fully ready or not. We simply need to start winning and making stupid mistakes
1-0 win against lower league opposition but a badly needed win should hopefully help the confidence for the league. Scottish giants Celtic next.....gulp
Start for Kawashima: GRAPHIC | Today’s teamsheet | #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/sOcG3xASat— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) January 23, 2016
Few games in now and he's been quite good. His ability with crosses is not great but otherwise very solid.
Saved a penalty today http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/...united-kawashima-heroics-rescue-terrors-point
Yup came here to say he saved a penalty today. Not a great penalty but most penalties that go down the middle aren't saved so well done Eiji!! Still going to be very very difficult to avoid relegation but we are finding form now so fingers crossed.
Kawashima kept a clean-sheet as his team recorded a 0-3 away win against 4th place Ross County. They are now 8 points away from relegation play-off and 10 points away from safety with 10 games to go + 1 game in hand. Good Luck to Eiji in his Scottish adventure.
Eiji has been out with a thigh injury for a couple of games but he's been called up to the national team. I'm glad his time at Utd has got him noticed again. Good lad
Dundee United holds to a 1-0 victory over St. Johnstone with 10 men. Clean sheet for Kawashima. Without Kawashima, Dundee Utd's league record is 2W 4D 15L, with Kawashima, their record is 4W 2D 4L. Impressive stat.
He ain't bad fallen off the radar abit these days but used to be a top notch keeper. JPN need another keeper to come through the ranks similarly to him. Asian countries always seem to struggle to find good keepers but we had a decent one in Kawashima and he still may have more to offer