Ryotaro Meshino is set to spend his second year in Europe away from his parent club Manchester City.
The Gamba Osaka academy graduate joined City at the start of the 2019 season and was immediately loaned out to Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian FC where Meshino scored 3 goals and another assist in 19 league appearances. Earlier this year, the 22 years old represented Japan in the 2020 AFC U23-Championship, scored one and set one up for his teammates, and is a key player in the Samurai Blue‘s Olympic squad.
Rio Ave FC, who finished fifth in the 2019 season and qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, have Meshino on a 2 year deal with an option to make the transfer permanent.
“I hope I can help the team reach the main draw of the Europa League, and on top of that contribute a lot of goals and assists,” said Meshino in Rio Ave’s Twitter account.