Dortmund takes Japanese prodigy on loan

Borussia Dortmund have signed Japanese teenager Mitsuru Maruoka on loan from Cerezo Osaka, the Bundesliga club said Thursday.

The midfielder will join Dortmund when he turns 18 on January 6, the club said.

The loan agreement runs to June 30, 2015, and includes an option for Dortmund to buy the player.

Maruoka will initially play for Dortmund’s Under-23 development squad, which plays in the German third division.