Twenty-year-old Japanese-Spanish left-back Niko Takahashi has joined Almere City on a half-year loan from sister club Cerezo Osaka, which competes at the highest level in Japan. The youth international has 21 caps for Japan U20 and played in 22 top-flight matches in Japan last season. Takahashi previously spent five years in FC Barcelona's youth academy before moving to Osaka. Both clubs are part of the Japanese company Yanmar, which acquired Almere City in July. Technical manager Chiel Dekker stated that he was pleased to add a young defender with international experience to the squad. Dekker added that the loan aligns with the close ties with their sister club and their mutual goal of developing young talent. Takahashi's contract with Cerezo Osaka expires on June 30, 2027, and his current market value is €600k.