Japanese midfielder Taisei Abe, aged 22, has joined Holstein Kiel on loan for the upcoming season from V-Varen Nagasaki, with an option for the club to purchase him. Abe, who is the team's second Japanese signing recently after Hiroki Sekine, spent the previous season on loan at FC Luzern, making 38 appearances. Sportchef Olaf Rebbe described the 22-year-old as a dynamic and strong link-up player for the central midfield, adding that Abe had already shown his enormous value to a team during his time in Luzern. Rebbe also highlighted the player's mentality and high work rate. Abe has been capped seven times for Japan's U20 team. According to Transfermarkt, he has a current market value of €2.50m.