Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima is moving from the Belgian team Lierse to higher-ranked club Standard Liege, also in Belgium, despite previous information saying the player would transfer to Italy or England.

The transfer fee was reported by the official site of the Belgian Pro League to be €200,000. The national Belgian television however said that the amount will be three times higher.

Kawashima, 29 years old was voted the most valuable player by Lierse’s supporters for two consecutive seasons. In the last season he even was the team’s captain. He joined the club after the 2010 World Cup.

Kawashima previously indicated that he would transfer to Italy or England with some rumours indicating that Italian giants Milan had expressed interest in the Japanese goalkeeper.

Standard Liege finished last season in fourth place while Lierse finished 12th.