Ex-Melbourne City playmaker Tolgay Arslan joins Japanese club Sanfreece Hiroshima

Officials from an A-League club aren’t pleased after one of their former stars joined a team in Japan.

Former A-League star Tolgay Arslan has joined Japanese club Sanfreece Hiroshima just two weeks after being granted an early release from his Melbourne City contract to allow him to return to Germany for “family reasons”.

Arslan’s move to Japan has further angered City officials who were already unhappy about the sudden nature of the 33-year-old playmaker’s request for a release, particularly as he had started pre-season training with the club.

“Whilst it’s very disappointing to lose a player of Tolgay’s quality, especially after the commencement of pre-season training, sometimes there are factors out of our control,” City’s director of football Michael Petrillo said earlier this month.

“He’s a player we absolutely wanted to keep, and we did everything in our power to find a way for him to stay.”

Tolgay Arslan has wasted little time finding a new club after leaving Melbourne City. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It’s understood Arslan – who starred last season for City after moving to the A-League from Italian top-flight outfit Udinese – asked to be allowed to return to his native Germany for “family reasons” and to be “closer to home”.

However, it’s believed City’s failure to fulfil its promise of offering him an extension to his contract – which wasn’t due to expire until next year – on the same terms as his existing deal, was a major reason for the A-League All-Stars representative’s departure.

“I’m thrilled for my new adventure in Hiroshima,” Arslan said after signing a deal with his new club that is currently sitting in fifth place on the J1 League ladder.

“I can’t wait for my first match in our amazing stadium. We’ll fight together with the spirit of the Three Arrows.”

Originally published as Ex-Melbourne City playmaker Tolgay Arslan joins Japanese club Sanfreece Hiroshima