SpotlightBundesligaUnverified source· 22 Jul 2026
Kovač: Yamamoto has real potential, but patience needed
Teenage Japanese midfielder Takato Yamamoto has impressed Niko Kovač in pre-season.
T. Yamamoto
player
Age
18
Position
Midfielder
Club
Borussia Dortmund (U23s)
Nationality
Japanese
Key stat
Scored in pre-season friendly vs Rot-Weiß Oberhausen
What happened. Niko Kovač praised Takato Yamamoto's potential after his first appearance for Dortmund, but stressed the need for patience.
- Yamamoto joined Dortmund reserves on loan from Gamba Osaka in July.
- He scored in a pre-season friendly against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.
- Current plan is for him to play with U23s in 2026/27.
“I saw real potential, and that's positive for us.”
— Niko Kovač
Dortmund will tour Japan from 26 July to 2 August, then face Arsenal in London.
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N. Kovač
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