Genk midfielder and Japan international Junya Ito has been selected in the Belgian league’s best eleven of the season by football site VoetbalPrimeur.

Ito arrived at Genk on loan from Kashiwa Reysol after the Asian Cup in January, and made his debut against Slavia Prague in the Europa League on 21 February. This was followed by his first league appearance on 24 February against Antwerp. On 17 March, he registered his first goal and assist against Zulte Waregem. Ito continued his good form right through to the playoffs and helped Genk to their title win.

The pacy winger’s performance and positive impact did not go unnoticed as VoetbalPrimeur picked him as the right winger in the team of the season.

“The Japanese player has shown many beautiful things in his short time. And it was enough for the readers to pick Ito over Theo Bongonda (Belgian forward at Zulte Waregem) for the right winger position. Overall, Ito received 39% of the votes, followed by Bongonda 30% and Emmanuel Dennis (Nigerian forward at Club Brugge) 20%.”

After a sensational start to his first year in Europe, much will be expected of Ito in the coming future.

VoetbalPrimeur’s Belgian League Best Eleven of the Season

Goalkeeper

Sinan Bolat (Antwerp, Turkey international)

Defenders

Sebastien Dewaest (Genk, Belgian)

Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge, Belgium international)

Joakim Maehle (Genk, Danish)

Jere Uronen (Genk, Finland international)

Midfielders

Ruslan Malinovskiy (Genk, Ukraine international)

Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge, Belgium international)

Forwards

Junya Ito (Genk, Japan international)

Leandro Trossard (Genk, Belgium international)

Mbwana Samatta (Genk, Zambia international)

Wesley (Club Brugge, Brazilian)

Ito will be representing Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup, where they will play Trinidad and Tobago (5 June) and El Salvador (9 June).

For Japanese football news: CoolJapan Soccer

Source: Yahoo

Images: gettyimages