Kashiwa Reysol striker Tadanari Lee, who obtained Japanese citizenship last week, has been added to Japan's Under-22 squad ahead of its opening Beijing Olympic qualifier against Hong Kong, the Japan Football Association said Thursday.
The 21-year-old was born in Japan but held a South Korean passport before he changed his name from Lee Chun Son and switched nationalities last Friday.
He will head for Kumamoto to join up with the squad for a warmup for the qualifier against the United States U-22s on Wednesday. Japan U-22 coach Yasuharu Sorimachi had hinted that he would bring in Lee when he announced a 23-man squad the same day the player was granted Japanese citizenship.
Lee, a quick, skillful attacker, struck eight goals in the second division last season to help Kashiwa win promotion back to the top flight.