FEATURE | From bargain hunt to midfield engine: Who is Mainz 05’s Kaishu Sano?

FEATURE | From bargain hunt to midfield engine: Who is Mainz 05’s Kaishu Sano?When Mainz 05 paid a modest €2.5m to sign Kaishu Sano from Kashima Antlers in the summer of 2024, few outside of Japanese football predicted just how crucial the midfielder would become. Fast forward to 2026, and the 25-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most complete, press-resistant, and disciplined central midfielders in the Bundesliga – with major European clubs keeping close tabs on his dev