Havenaar signs with Vitesse

Japan international Mike Havenaar has finally signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Eredivisie club Vitesse.

The 24-year-old striker joins Vitesse from relegated Japanese club Ventforet Kofu after scoring 17 goals in the 2011 J-League season.

The five-time Japan international trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday before completing the formalities of his deal which was agreed last month.

Havenaar joins Japanese compatriot Michihiro Yasuda at Vitesse while the language will not be a problem for him, given his Dutch descent.

“I’ve known Michi since I was 16,” Havenaar said.

“I had some time to chat with the players. If I can’t speak to them in Dutch, I’ll speak to them in English. But if and where possible, I’ll try to speak Dutch.”

“I don’t think it will be an inconvenience.”

Havenaar was handed the number 14 shirt by John van den Brom, the same number famously worn by Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.

“I know it’s a big number in Holland, and I just hope I can live up to it,” Havenaar said.