Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced that they have entered a partnership with Japanese club Shonan Bellmare.
The Premier League outfit are no strangers to being associated with Asia, most notably being owned by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.
Hwang Hee-chan - one of the stars of South Korean football - is their current top goalscorer, while there were plans to tour the country in pre-season before that was ultimately scrapped for reasons beyond Wolves' control.
However, the West Midlands side have now revealed that they have put in place another association with that part of the world by agreeing to work with J-League club Shonan Bellmare.
We have entered into a new partnership with J-League team @bellmare_staff.
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 3, 2024
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Who are Shonan Bellmare?
Shonan have established themselves in the Japanese top flight, recently starting their seventh consecutive campaign in the J-League with four points coming from their opening three matches.
A wide range of clubs around the world are affiliated with the coastal region, most notably Inter Milan, Lazio and Borussia Dortmund.
None of their first-team squad were named in the most Japan squad, but goalkeeper Song Bum-keun has been capped by South Korea.
How will the partnership work?
Wolves have described the partnership as "innovative", as well as "strengthening both clubs' exposure overseas and player and coach development".
The primary focus will be on academy football, it being revealed that their respective coaching setups will share ideas and practices.
Both clubs will also work on the development of elite Asian players with the view of a transfer to Europe potentially materialising, while scouting information will also be mutually shared.
Grasshopper Zurich had previously been affiliated with Wolves, but the Swiss club have recently changed owners and no longer have any Wolves players on their books.
Darren Plant
