The New York Cosmos inked 20-year-old striker Satoru Kashiwase on a loan deal from Shimizu S-Pulse of Japan’s J.League, and also added midfielder Paulo Mendes.
“I am very happy and proud to become part of the New York Cosmos,” said Kashiwase, the youngest native Japanese player to sign with a North American team. “I am going to work hard to be recognized and aim to become an established player here in New York.
“I truly hope that I can develop not only as a player, but also as a person here with the Cosmos. I also want to thank the Shimizu S-Pulse organization, the fans, and everybody who supported me. Everything has been great and I’ve enjoyed training here every day. I am going to do my best so that I can show you all that I’ve developed my game
Kashiwase will make his U.S. debut on Aug. 3, when the Cosmos make their return to NASL at Hofstra University. In his first pro season last year, he played for Shimizu S-Pulse, one of the top teams in the J.League. He’s also played for Japan’s U-17 and U-18 National Teams.
The Cosmos also signed Mendes, a 23-year-old midfielder already familiar with U.S. soccer. The 6-foot native of Goiania, Brazil played for the Atlanta Silverbacks in the 2012 and 2013 seasons.