He was already mentioned in @naopon's roundups, but I figured he might as well have his own thread as I came across some stuff about him today. He last month joined J1 Nagoya Grampus: https://nagoya-grampus.jp/news/pressrelease/2023/1225post-2246.php That page says he was born in the U.S. in 2000 and has been in Japan for several years. His Wiki page says 1) he has some JYNT time and 2) he's Japan-born to Nigerian and Japanese parents. There's an article that backs up the parentage but not the birthplace, so I'm gonna go with the club. https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/839052 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KennedyEgbus_Mikuni Wiki does say he's the younger brother of Stevia Mikuni who, however, has been called Japan-born by a club. https://www.albirex.com.sg/en/news/43622/
Also, just confirming that he appeared for Japan in the 2019 FIFA U20s, so he's provisionally cap-tied to them. Zion Suzuki was also on that team.
Yup, Kennedy is listed by the J.League as being US-born, but apparently he was raised in the rural outskirts of Tokyo along with his 5 siblings. His (Japanese) mother was a competitive speed skater in her youth, and he also has a younger sister who aspires to play pro basketball.
Forgot that Mikuni is a dual nat, but he's finally established himself as a nailed-on regular starter in J1 (30 starts this year for Nagoya). Seems like he's been around forever, but still just 24. Huge frame and good mobility, still cleaning up his game a bit - I think we might see him in Europe.
Mikuni shows off his aerial prowess in a J.League Cup semifinal leg. トクのコーナーキックを叩き込んだのはケネ💥💥2024.10.9 横浜F・マリノス戦#三國ケネディエブス @kennedy0623#徳元悠平 @tokumoto05#grampus#グランパス#ルヴァンカップ pic.twitter.com/2YkQw1IQMG— 名古屋グランパス / Nagoya Grampus (@nge_official) October 9, 2024