TOKYO, May 12 (Reuters) - Japan striker Yoshinori Muto will sign for German club Mainz after opting against joining Premier League champions Chelsea because of concerns over a lack of playing opportunities, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old was also wary about qualifying for a work permit to play in England, Kyodo quoted an unnamed official at Muto's current club FC Tokyo as saying.
Muto scored 13 goals for Tokyo last season and only graduated from Keio University in March after completing an economics degree.
Mainz are currently 12th in the Bundesliga and have enjoyed success with Japanese strikers.