Report: Yoshinori Muto to reject move to Chelsea in favour of transfer to Mainz

Chelsea are embracing Japanese culture following their new shirt sponsorship with Yokohama Rubber, but that reportedly isn't enough for FC Tokyo forward Yoshinori Muto.

Muto - who gained popularity in the J-League by scoring 13 goals last season - will reject a move to Stamford Bridge due to doubts over his chances of playing first-team football and will instead join FSV Mainz 05, according to Dominic Fifiled of the Guardian.

It was reported in April that Chelsea had made a £4-million bid for the 22-year-old prodigy and Tokyo president Naoki Ogane was quoted as telling Sports Nippon: "It is a formal offer with conditions. They want to acquire him in the summer."

Muto, who recently graduated from Keio University with an economics degree, is making an entirely understandable decision by joining Mainz. After all, Chelsea were reportedly set to send him on loan to Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem if their acquisition proved successful.

At Mainz, however, he can join a side where his main competition for playing time is compatriot Shinji Okazaki.