Transfer Market: Bidding Begins for One of the 2026 World Cup’s Surprise Teams; Some Serie A Clubs Are Already Ready

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup has just begun, but it has already produced one of the most talked-about names in the transfer market: Keito Nakamura. The Reims winger, who played a key role in the 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands, has caught the attention of numerous clubs following a standout season in Ligue 2, highlighted by a top-notch performance at the World Cup where, in addition to scoring a goal, he stood out for his rapid bursts down the left flank and his consistent ability to create numerical advantages.

The factor fueling this interest is his relatively low asking price—around 10 million euros—a figure within reach for many top-tier European clubs: a detail that has sparked a full-blown race to sign the player. According to Sky Sport, Roma is among the clubs showing the most interest, but Nakamura’s profile is also ideal for clubs seeking depth in their rosters, such as Napoli and Como; for teams looking to bounce back, such as Milan; and for ambitious sides like Atalanta and Bologna, which are always on the lookout for similar players.

However, one factor remains to be considered: Nakamura would occupy a non-EU player slot, a factor that could affect the timing and priorities of some Italian clubs. As for interested foreign clubs, his name has been linked to teams in the Turkish league (notably Trabzonspor and Besiktas) and the Portuguese league (Sporting), while interest from the Premier League—a league that has invested heavily in Asian talent in recent years—cannot be ruled out.

Born in 2000, he started out as a second striker but has developed into a winger (he plays on both the right and left flanks, preferring to shoot with his right foot), Nakamura made his senior debut in the 2018 season with Gamba Osaka, before moving to Twente in the Netherlands in 2019, where he played for both the first and reserve teams. During the 2020–2021 season, he split his time between Sint-Truiden and the reserve team of LASK Linz, playing for the first team for the next two seasons. He has been with Reims since August 2023, scoring in double digits for the club over the past two years.