Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on a deal for Parma and Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, with the 23-year-old having emerged as one of the most coveted shot-stoppers in Europe following a standout World Cup. A move that once seemed destined for the Premier League is now pointing firmly toward the reigning European champions.

A body built differently

Those who have worked most closely with Suzuki speak about him in almost disbelieving terms. Dennis Rudel, his former goalkeeper coach at Belgian club Sint-Truiden, was left speechless the first time he assessed the player's physical capabilities. "It is like his body is just made of muscles," Rudel told Sky Sports. "And I have never seen in my life a goalkeeper who can jump higher."

Rudel recalled that Suzuki's physical test results were "off the charts" during his debut season in Europe. That physical profile was not something that developed overnight — it was evident long before Suzuki left Japan, even when he was still a bench player at Urawa Red Diamonds.

Frans Hoek's early intervention

World-renowned goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek had been brought in to help Japan build toward their stated ambition of winning the World Cup by 2050. His brief was to overhaul goalkeeper development across the country. "We made a pathway for the talented goal players," Hoek told Sky Sports.

Hoek's use of the phrase "goal players" reflects his belief that modern goalkeepers must contribute far beyond simply stopping shots. He spotted Suzuki at a training camp and acted immediately. "I saw him in a camp and said, 'this guy has to go to Europe as soon as possible. It does not matter what league it is. He has to play'."

From Sint-Truiden to Serie A stardom

Suzuki moved from Sint-Truiden to Parma, where he has spent two seasons in Serie A. His World Cup performances confirmed what his coaches had long known. He drew widespread praise for his display against Netherlands and remained composed even in Japan's defeat to Brazil, producing one of the saves of the tournament — a stunning stop low to his left to deny Vinicius Junior.

That low save has become something of a trademark. Despite his imposing frame, Suzuki is extraordinarily quick to get down and smother shots near the ground. Rudel's personal favourite came in a match against Club Brugge. "It is those low saves because he is so dynamic and so quick to get down. He has unbelievable reflexes. For me, that is his biggest strength," Rudel said.

The power behind those saves is no accident. "With those low power saves, his arms are so strong. Sometimes when goalkeepers go down fast and get their fingers to the ball, it still goes backwards. That never happens to him. He has crazy power in his hands," Rudel added.

The throw that said everything

One training-ground story captures Suzuki's remarkable physical gifts perfectly. During one of their earliest sessions together, Rudel asked him to demonstrate how far he could throw. "I looked away and then saw this ball flying 20 metres over the halfway line," he recalled. "I turned around and said, 'I told you to throw it not kick it'. He just smiled back at me and replied, 'but I did throw it'."

That raw power translates into meaningful statistics. Suzuki ranked second in Serie A for successful long passes last season and also placed second for high claims. In the previous campaign, only Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia claimed more crosses across Europe's top leagues.

Temperament to match the talent

Rudel describes Suzuki as "really aggressive because he has massive physical strength" during matches, but paints an entirely different picture off the pitch. "He is a really quiet guy, a really calm character. That is him off the pitch."

Suzuki's journey has not been without adversity. Errors at the 2023 Asian Cup, when he was only 21, were followed by vile racist abuse. He endured it, improved, and arrived at this World Cup as Japan's undisputed No 1 and a national hero.

Born in New York to a Ghanaian-American father, Suzuki grew up entirely in Japan and, as Rudel noted, that culture is completely his own. Whether he claims the No 1 shirt at Paris Saint-Germain immediately or requires a loan spell first, the trajectory is clear. PSG have identified their goalkeeper of the future — and Rudel has no doubts. "One hundred per cent," he said when asked if Suzuki could reach the very top. "That is what separates the really good ones."