Hull City's owner, Acun Ilicali, posted on X to counter what he described as false transfer rumors and to provide supporters with hints regarding the club's transfer targets. One of these hints, described as involving a Japanese player at 60%, is possibly a reference to NEC's 22-year-old Japanese central midfielder, Kodai Sano. Ilicali stated he shared the update to prevent speculation and offer more information on the club's transfer progress after two months of intensive work.
Sano has two caps for Japan, is under contract until 2028, and has a market value of €12.00m according to Transfermarkt. The midfielder has also been linked with several other clubs, including Ajax, PSV and TSG Hoffenheim. NEC's valuation of the player is reportedly high. Reports from July 2026 cited an €18 million asking price for PSV and a counteroffer to TSG Hoffenheim valued at a total of €19 million.
