Gamba Osaka on Friday announced that they will not renew their contract with striker Naoki Ogawa.

The 21-year-old made his debut for the club in the 2014 J.League Cup and spent the 2015 season on loan at Fujieda MYFC. 

Ogawa did not make any first team appearances in 2016, although he scored three goals in 24 appearances for Gamba Osaka’s Under-23s.

“The entire organisation has helped me tremendously over these eight years and I’m glad that I could start my professional career here,” Ogawa said. 

“I’m disappointed that I could not repay the club on the pitch, but I want to keep improving and come back one day.”