Japan midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi announced on Thursday he has a deal with English second-tier club Leeds United, but the Gamba Osaka man said he will be immediately moved to a Spanish club on loan.

The 21-year-old Ideguchi, whose transfer to Leeds has been rumored since September, said after he joins the Championship club he will be loaned out to second division side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa until he finalizes United Kingdom work permit issues.

Ideguchi's senior international appearances for Japan fail to meet the quota required by the English Football Association, leaving him without an avenue to a work permit for the rest of the season.

"I wanted to take up the challenge in order to grow as a player," he said in a press conference.

"I'm going without a road map. I'm thrilled and full of excitement. I'll do my best to bring good news to everyone (in Japan) instead of having people wonder where I disappeared," he said.

Ideguchi admitted he felt the difference in level when he played for Japan against Brazil and Belgium in November, and that experience encouraged him to make the move sooner rather than later.

The Fukuoka native knows communication will be crucial as he tries to blend into the new team, and says he will rely on his sense of humor to bridge language barriers.

"I'm sure my lightheartedness will help," he said.

Ideguchi signed a pro contract with Gamba in the J-League first division when he was 17 years old and at 19 was the youngest player on Makoto Teguramori's under-23 squad at the Rio Olympics.

He was called up to the senior Japan squad for the first time by Vahid Halilhodzic in November 2016 for a friendly against Oman and has been regularly involved since.

He scored for the national team in a 2-0 home win over Australia last August that booked Japan's place at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, where he said he hopes to be on the roster.

Ideguchi, who came through Gamba's junior system before he started his professional career in 2014, has won 11 senior caps for Japan and has scored twice.

He scored four goals in 30 league games for Gamba last season.