Bayern Munich April Fools: Four poor signings of the century

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(L-R) Bayern Munich’s midfielder Diego Contento, Japanese midfielder Takashi Usami, and striker Nils Petersen celebrate after scoring during the German Football League DFB Cup second-round match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Ingolstadt in Munich, southern Germany, on October 26, 2011. Bayern Munich won the match 6-0. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHERESTRICTIONS / EMBARGO – DFL LIMITS THE USE OF IMAGES ON THE INTERNET TO 15 PICTURES (NO VIDEO-LIKE SEQUENCES) DURING THE MATCH AND PROHIBITS MOBILE (MMS) USE DURING AND FOR FURTHER TWO HOURS AFTER THE MATCH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT DFL. (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Takashi Usami

After lighting up the Japanese league with Gamba Osaka, Takashi Usami was tipped by many as the next Asian star to make it big in Europe. Osaka finally got a move to Bayern in 2011, but the uncertainty about his future at the club was from day one as it was a loan move.

The Japanese winger got five appearances with the first team in Bavaria. He did manage to score two goals for the senior team, but he got more playing time with the reserves team. Usami earned 18 appearances with the second, scoring six and assisting two goals. (Stats courtesy: Transfermarkt)

Usami came to Germany with a lot of expectations, but for one or other reasons, he couldn’t get his career started in Europe. After an unsuccessful spell at Bayern, Usami had brief spells at Augsburg and Hoffenheim. He finally settled at Fortuna Dusseldorf, for a couple of seasons, before moving back to Gamba Osaka.

The Japanese winger was expected to become Asia’s next big star and succeed likes of Shinji Kagawa and Ji-Sung Park, but he struggled to emulate his J-league performances in Europe. Bayern did dodge a bullet as it was a loan deal, but he will still go down as one of the poor transfers the club has ever made.