Borussia Mönchengladbach is closing in on a loan deal with an option to buy for Japanese international defender Daiki Hashioka from Slavia Prague. The move comes as the club reacts to an injury sustained by fellow summer arrival Yukhym Konoplya during a recent pre-season friendly match.
The defensive adjustments mark a busy pre-season for the Bundesliga side, which has also welcomed midfielder Zento Uno to team training. Head coach Eugen Polanski and his staff are navigating squad depth issues ahead of the upcoming campaign, balancing new arrivals with player sales.
Daiki Hashioka Targeted Following Injury to Yukhym Konoplya
Borussia Mönchengladbach moved quickly in the transfer market after Ukrainian international right-back Yukhym Konoplya suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The injury occurred during a 2-1 friendly victory over Rot-Weiss Essen.
Konoplya is expected to remain sidelined for approximately two months, missing all team sessions during the club’s Tegernsee training camp. To cover the vacancy, management targeted 27-year-old right-back Daiki Hashioka. According to reporting from Sky Germany and transfermarkt.de, the club reached an agreement with Slavia Prague on a loan featuring an option to buy.
Hashioka is scheduled to undergo his medical examination on Thursday. The 12-times-capped international spent the previous season on loan with KAA Gent, making 17 appearances. Beyond his natural right-back position, Hashioka offers defensive versatility, capable of operating in central defense or further forward on the right flank.
Zento Uno Integrates into the Midfield
While Hashioka prepares for his arrival, Zento Uno has already begun his integration with the squad. The 22-year-old Japanese international midfielder officially joined the Foals on a contract running until 2030 after moving from Shimizu S-Pulse.
Uno completed his first team-training session, participating primarily in drills involving limited physical contact as coaching staff manage his early workload. The club assigned interpreter Atsushi Waki to assist Uno during tactical meetings and training sessions.
“With a translator, we can ensure that our messages come across exactly as we intend them to,” head coach Eugen Polanski said. “We’re using this week to ease him into the workload so that, ideally, he’ll be able to participate fully at training camp.”
Eugen Polanski, Head Coach, via ca.sports.yahoo.com
Head of sports Rouven Schröder highlighted the tactical profile that convinced the club to bring the former Shimizu S-Pulse captain to Germany.
“Zento is a defensively minded, tactically disciplined midfielder who is strong in the tackle, covers plenty of ground and whose greatest strengths lie in his work off the ball. A move to the Bundesliga is the next step in his career, but also a demanding one.”
Rouven Schröder, Head of Sports, via bundesliga.com
Reflecting on the transfer, Uno noted the historical connection between Japanese players and the German club. Borussia is a huge club and are very well known in Japan through the Japanese players who have represented the club,
Uno stated.
Financial Balance and Squad Management
The dual moves for Hashioka and Uno reflect active roster management by the Bundesliga side, which finished 12th in the standings last season. The Foals have invested approximately €12.5 million in new players while generating €21 million through sales.
Further squad departures remain possible for Mönchengladbach before the transfer window closes, with Nathan Ngoumou, Tomas Cvancara, and Florian Neuhaus identified as potential candidates for sale.
Pre-Season Schedule and Competitive Return
Mönchengladbach’s immediate schedule features a friendly against Hansa Rostock before the team travels to Rottach-Egern. Additional pre-season fixtures against local side FC Rottach-Egern and Bundesliga rivals Hoffenheim are slated to follow.
Uno is set to join pre-season training on 12 July. The Foals will officially open their 2026/27 campaign in the DFB Cup against Schott Mainz in a fixture scheduled between 21 and 24 August, with the Bundesliga season commencing the following weekend.
