Squad Update | Yengi heads to Japan on loan
We can confirm forward Tete Yengi has joined Japanese J1 League side FC Machida Zelvia on loan until 30th June 2026.
The 25-year-old moves east after two years in West Lothian. He joins a Zelvia side on the verge of qualifying for the knockout round of the AFC Champions League, and head into the compressed 2026 league campaign having finished sixth last time out, and winning the Emperor’s Cup.
Arriving from Ipswich Town in January 2024, the Australian netted six times in an ultimately disappointing campaign for the Lions, including the extra-time winner in the Scottish Cup against Partick Thistle at Firhill. In last season’s memorable promotion campaign, he scored ten times in all competitions and proved to be a man for the big occasion. An outrageous long-range effort against Falkirk in November 2025 kept us in touching distance at the league summit, before netting the third in our SPFL Trust Trophy final triumph against Queen’s Park in April. His defining moment in amber and black undoubtedly came in Dingwall in May’s SPFL Premiership play-off final, when he sealed our return to the top-flight and sparked rambunctious scenes in the away end.
First-team manager David Martindale said, “This move is fantastic value for the club and a great move for Tete as an individual too.
“FC Machida Zelvia have a paid a six-figure loan fee and have a further six-figure transfer fee option which they can exercise in the Summer if they wish to make the move permanent.
“I am really excited to watch Tete’s growth in another league. I feel the player that walked in our building two years ago has now become a much better footballer and an even better person and we have been a great fit for one another.
“He leaves the club on a temporary loan with all of our best wishes.
“This is a fantastic piece of business for the club and it’s important that we try to balance the books as best we can. As a club we need to progressing towards sustainability which has proved very hard the last few years – but player trading will become a huge part of our business model moving forward.”
All the best in Japan, Tete!
