FC Gifu have announced that midfielder Daigo Araki will join SW Bregenz of Austria on a permanent transfer.
Araki had been with Gifu since 2024 but had yet to make an appearance in the MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE this season.
Following the announcement, Araki commented:
"I will be joining SW Bregenz in Austria. I'm sorry to be leaving the team at a time when we had enjoyed a good pre-season and were working towards promotion to J2. I'm very disappointed that I won't be able to play a part in achieving that goal and that I wasn't able to say goodbye to the fans and supporters in person. In the two and a half years since FC Gifu gave me the opportunity to continue my career as a professional footballer, I feel I've put the fans and supporters through a lot of frustration. Even so, you continued to support me with such passion, and I can't thank you enough. I hope you'll continue to support FC Gifu so that when people think of Gifu, they think of FC Gifu and a city of football.
After everything I've experienced here, I truly believe FC Gifu can win promotion to J2. There is a real sense of unity between Coach Ishimaru, the staff and everyone working behind the scenes. Above all, there is a fantastic group of players who approach the game with such determination. I was genuinely happy to train and play alongside them every day. It was an environment that helped me grow as a professional footballer, and everyone around me supported me tremendously. At the same time, as a player, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play football in Europe at the age of 32. It may be a selfish decision, but as a professional footballer I want to keep challenging myself. I'm extremely grateful to the club and the sporting department for understanding my decision. The environment and the football will both be different from what I've experienced before, but I'll work hard to make sure this proves to be the right decision for me and to bring you news that gives everyone back in Gifu something to be excited about. I want to grow to the point where, one day, people will want to see me back in Gifu in whatever capacity that may be. Thank you for everything over the past two and a half years!"
