Whatever happened to?… Junichi Inamoto

Where?

In the summer of 2001, Arsene Wenger pulled a signing straight out of left field when he brought Junichi Inamoto to Highbury in a £3.5million deal from Japanese J League outfit Gamba Osaka.

Although us Gooners had never heard of the midfielder, we decided to believe in Le Professeur’s judgement seeing as the Frenchman had spent time managing Nagoya Grampus 8 in Japan.

In amongst that majority, there was a minority who were skeptical over the Japanese international’s arrival, with some believing the signing was a ploy to increase shirt sales in the Asian market.

Highbury highlights

With Inamoto making just three appearances for Arsenal – two in the League Cup and one in the Champions League – it was always going to be hard filling in this section. However, shortly after being released from Arsenal, Inamoto went to the 2002 World Cup with Japan and scored two goals in the Group Stages which basically makes it an Arsenal highlight…right?….RIGHT?!

Arsenal reject! Arsenal reject!

After just one season at Highbury, the midfielder was released by Arsenal and joined Fulham where he enjoyed greater success, including four goals over two-legs against Bologna in the Intertoto Cup Final.

With life going so well for the Japanese international at Craven Cottage, it was a real blow for him when he picked up a fractured tibia in a friendly against England, an injury which saw him leave Fulham and return to former club Gamba Osaka in a promotional capacity.

Premier League football once again called upon Inamoto, with West Bromwich Albion bringing the midfielder back to the league for £200,000. However, not long after arriving, Cardiff City took the player on loan.

Whilst with the Bluebirds, the former Gooner impressed and was subsequently recalled by Bryan Robson to play a crucial part in West Brom’s ‘great escape’ from Premier League relegation in 2004/05.

After establishing himself as a mainstay for the Baggies in the 2005/06 season, Inamoto was signed by Turkish outfit Galatasaray, although after just one season with the side, Inamoto ended up in the Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt – he’d spend two years with the German side.

A swift six months with Ligue 1 outfit Rennes followed before joining Kawasaki Frontale in Janaury 2010, the club he remains with as of right now.