MIYAICHI HANDED NEW DEAL
Wednesday, 09. August 2017, 18:14 Uhr
St. Pauli have sent out an important signal by extending the contract of injured midfielder Ryo Miyaichi by an additional year to 30 June 2019. His existing deal was due to expire next summer.
The 24-year-old Japanese tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the close season and will be out of action for several months.
"Ryo has been incredibly unlucky to tear his cruciate ligament twice during his time with us," said commercial director Andreas Rettig, who took the decision in conjunction with the new director of sport, Uwe Stöver. "Rather than leave him alone with it, we wanted to show that we're behind him. We hope this decision will help Ryo get back to his old form."
The two-time Japan international is delighted by the club's move. "It's not self-evident for St. Pauli to extend my contract in spite of this serious injury and it's great to experience such backing," he said. "I'm very grateful to the club and will do my utmost to repay the trust they have shown in me and return to playing at the Millerntor as soon as possible."
Miyaichi joined the Boys in Brown from Arsenal in 2015 and tore a cruciate ligament in his left knee that summer. Since recovering from that injury he has made 22 second-division appearances for the club, scoring two goals.
