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Japan eyes Premier League parity by aligning calendar with Europe

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Former Japan forward Kazuyoshi Miura (R) speaks during a press conference to announce his joining of Fukushima United FC in the J-League's football third division, in Tokyo on January 9, 2026. (Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Japan's J. League can one day compete with England's Premier League if a calendar switch helps clubs bring in bigger transfer fees, its chairman told AFP ahead of the new season.

Japanese teams have sold a steady stream of players to Europe, including Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, but the sums involved are only a fraction of the billions sloshing around the global transfer market.

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