Hull City have registered their interest in Stade de Reims winger Keito Nakamura as the Premier League new boys continue their ambitious summer recruitment drive. The 26-year-old Japan international, who impressed at the World Cup, is valued at £21.5m by his French second-tier club, a price tag that has so far discouraged rival suitors.
Nakamura has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League, having previously drawn interest from Everton, Bournemouth and Fulham. Hull's move comes amid an extraordinary spending spree that has seen the club sign 11 players this summer, including fellow Japan international Hidemasa Morita, for a combined outlay of around £76m as they prepare for their return to the top flight.
The winger enjoyed a breakout campaign at the World Cup, starting all four of Japan's matches after first-choice left winger Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Nakamura seized the opportunity, scoring one goal and providing an assist, performances that earned him a place in Opta's team of the group stage. Japan's tournament ended in heartbreak in the last 32, falling to a stoppage-time winner from Gabriel Martinelli as Brazil edged past them.
Despite his rising international profile, Nakamura's club career has taken a downward turn on paper, with Reims relegated from Ligue 1 last season. He still finished as the club's top scorer with 14 goals and has interest from elsewhere, including previous offers reportedly reaching £15.5m from Villarreal and Besiktas last summer. In the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, he scored 11 goals in 32 appearances before his side's relegation was confirmed.
Nakamura's career path has taken him across Europe since leaving the Gamba Osaka academy at 18. He had loan spells at FC Twente, Sint-Truiden and Juniors OO before signing permanently for LASK Linz, and later moved to Reims in 2023. For the national team, he has become an increasingly important figure, netting 11 goals in 29 caps, including six goals in his opening six appearances for Japan.
His game is built around pace in behind defenses, an ability to cut inside from wide areas and shoot, along with a high work rate that has made him a valuable two-way threat.
Japanese football journalist Tasuku Okawa believes Nakamura has used his stalled move to a bigger club as fuel for his performances.