Nakamura on his way to Reggina

Yokohama F-Marinos midfield player Shunsuke Nakamura today clinched a move to Italian club Reggina Calcio, easing his disappointment at being dropped from Japan's FIFA World Cup squad.

Three-year contract
Nakamura has signed a three-year contract and will cost Reggina, who have returned to Serie A after finishing fourth in the Italian second division last season, around €3.5m following an initial six-month loan period.

'Improve my skills'
The 24-year-old Nakamura, who has scored five times in 21 games for Japan since making his international debut in an Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in February 2000, told a news conference in Yokohama: "I want to improve my skills in a strong soccer country."

Troussier omission
Nakamura was left out of the World Cup squad by Japan's French coach Philippe Troussier in favour of Mitsuo Ogasawara. He becomes the fourth Japanese player to sign for an Italian club after Kazuyoshi Miura, Hidetoshi Nakata and Hiroshi Nanami.