MLS club Cincinnati sign Japanese forward Yuya Kubo

WASHINGTON - Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Cincinnati announced on Thursday that they have singed Japanese forward Yuya Kubo from Belgian club KAA Gent.

"We are delighted to add a proven offensive player to our roster," FC Cincinnati general manager Gerard Nijkamp said in a statement. "We've made it a priority to bring impact players to Cincinnati and we believe Yuya's versatility as an attacking player will be a great addition to our current group."

Aside from playing for Gent, the 26-year-old Kubo also played for Japanese team Kyoto Sanga, BSC Young Boys of Switzerland and German Bundesliga club Nurnberg.

Kubo has made 13 appearances for the Japanese national team, scoring twice and adding two assists.

"I'm excited to join Cincinnati," Kubo said. "This will be a great experience for me as I am looking for a new exciting chapter in my professional career."

FC Cincinnati finished bottom of the Eastern Conference standings last season and will begin their 2020 campaign on March 1 at New York Red Bulls.