Sinsheim (Germany), Jun 28 (AP) German team Hoffenheim has signed Japan defender Koki Machida from Belgian champion Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. The 27-year-old Machida, who has played 17 games for Japan, signed a “long-term contract” at Hoffenheim, the Bundesliga club said on Friday without elaborating. Also Read | SL vs BAN 2nd Test 2025: Spinners Take Centerstage As Sri Lanka Inch Closer to an Innings Victory Over Bangladesh. Kicker magazine reported Hoffenheim agreed to pay around 4.5 million euros ($5.3 million) for the player, possibly rising to over 5 million ($5.9 million) with bonuses. “In Koki Machida we’ve found a central defender who brings exactly the qualities we were looking for in this position,” Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Schicker said. Also Read | Vaibhav Suryavanshi Smashes Quickfire 48 As India U19 Registers Comfortable Win Over England U19 in 1st Youth ODI 2025. “He has international experience as a Japanese national team player and was an absolute key part of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise’s championship-winning last season. Koki is an uncompromising defender who never shies away from a challenge.” Machida initially joined the Belgian team on loan from Kashima Antlers in 2022, earning a permanent switch the following year. Altogether he played 114 games for Union. “For me the step to Hoffenheim and in the Bundesliga is the next in my career,” Machida said in a Hoffenheim statement. Hoffenheim finished just above the Bundesliga relegation zone last season. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)