Daiki Hashioka has left Luton Town to sign a four-year contract with Czech Republic giants Slavia Prague for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old was Town’s only signing in the January 2024 transfer window, joining from Belgian side St. Truiden, when the Hatters were still in the Premier League, but he found appearances hard to come by, making just 28 appearances for the club.
The defender was the first Japanese international to play for Luton but he only featured four times under current manager Matt Bloomfield after he joined the club in January, with his last appearance coming as a substitute in February’s draw against Sheffield Wednesday.
But with Town’s relegation to League One, Hashioka follows Carlton Morris out of Kenilworth Road this transfer window. The defender will join a Prague side that won the Czech championship and will play in the Champions League in the coming campaign.
Hashioka told Slavia’s website: “Slavia Prague is a team with great history. I watched their Champions League matches, like the one against Barcelona. I’m thrilled — that’s one of the reasons I chose Slavia and its fans. They’re unbelievable. I watch them on YouTube every day. Even my family told me they create an incredible atmosphere and that I should come here to play. I can’t wait.”
Slavia’s sporting director, Jiří Bílek, thanked the Hatters, saying: ” “I´d like to thank Luton and the agency for fair and professional negotiations. I wish Daiki the best of luck.”
He added: “We’ve been following Daiki for three years; he went through our scouting and analytical system. He’s versatile and excellent in the air. We are gaining a player with experience from the Premier League and the national team, who has gone through all the youth levels of Japanese football. Besides his sporting contribution, I believe he can also help us unlock new and interesting opportunities to push Slavia forward and strengthen our position in the Asian market.”
