Ayumu Yokoyama has been named Young Player of the Month, riding a hot three-goal July to take home the award.

Yokoyama scored to beat one of the league’s biggest clubs, Yokohama F·Marinos, at the beginning of the month and then he added two goals in a 4-3 win over Albirex Niigata. Both performances proved crucial in Sagan Tosu’s quest to avoid the drop as his club picked up six points because of the 21-year-old’s exploits.

Yokoyama’s phenomenal form didn’t just attract spotlights in Japan. Foreign clubs noticed the winger’s outstanding play too and England’s Birmingham City secured a transfer for Yokoyama on August 10.

In J2, top honors went to Kota Kawano. The 21-year-old already proved his leadership skills when he was handed the armband at Renofa Yamaguchi for the season and he continued to impress with his play on the pitch in July.

Kawano’s goal on July 6 was the difference in a 1-0 win over Kagoshima United and then he put in a terrific shift in Renofa’s only other match of the month. He has kept things going in August, with goals in each of his club’s first two games so he is already in the mix to take home Young Player of the Month again.

Yumeki Yokoyama won Young Player of the Month in J3 after scoring a pair of goals for FC Imabari.