Japan World Cup star Yuki Abe is on the verge of signing for League Championship side Leicester City from the J League’s Urawa Red Diamonds but the move could be threatened by the player’s failure to make the required international appearances for his national team needed for a work permit.

The defensive midfielder has already shaken hands over personal terms with the Foxes and is currently awaiting news of the finalisation of the deal while taking time off from the game after Urawa manager Volker Finke asked him to.

The Japan international will undergo a medical at Leicester before finding out if the FA will allow the deal to go through despite having not made the required number of appearances for Japan over the last two years.

Urawa general manager Koichi Hashiratani is confident that the FA will give the green light for the move as Abe was a pivotal part of Japan’s last 16 run in the 2010 World Cup finals, having played in every game up to the second round.

Abe also maintained that he was confident of the “new challenge” ahead and hopes to be given the chance to complete the move.

“I believe there is a new challenge waiting for me there and I’m hoping to finalise the move,” Abe said.

Abe made history in Japanese football when he became the youngest ever J League player when making his debut with JEF United in August 1998 at the age of 16.

The tenacious midfielder grew in his game under Ivica Osim and transferred to Urawa in what was then a record for a transfer fee in the J League, before helping the club win the 2007 Asian Champions League. Abe has also been named in the J League’s best XI twice.

Tags: Asia, English League Championship, J League, Leicester City, transfer news, Urawa Red Diamonds, Yuki Abe