PANTHERS STAR WENTLAND TURNING JAPANESE

Linebacker A.J. Wentland has departed Panthers Wroclaw to continue his professional American football career in Japan’s X-League, according to sources.

Recent reports from the official website of the nascent American Football League Europe, where the Panthers are scheduled to play in 2026, confirmed the move, which marks a significant next step for the 30-year-old American defender who has established himself as one of the top linebackers in Europe, earning multiple All-Star nods with both the Panthers and, previously, the now-defunct Leipzig Kings.

Wentland has been a cornerstone of the Panthers defense since signing with the club in 2023 and, last season alone, led the league with 144 tackles, and adding 4.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks, to land the DpoY award he had coveted for several seasons.

His departure comes as part of a broader trend of international talent moving to Japan’s top-tier X-League, the country’s premier professional American football competition. Founded in 1971 and featuring company-backed and club teams divided into multiple divisions, the X-League has increasingly attracted overseas players, including Americans, whose numbers are limited to a specific quota per team under league rules. Community forums discussing the move noted that Wentland has long been on the X-League radar, and could join a club in the Tokyo area, though no official team announcement has yet been made.

Wentland’s departure leaves a vacancy in a Panthers defence that has relied heavily on his playmaking and leadership in recent seasons. The club has not issued a formal statement on his exit, but social chatter indicates that defensive lineman Deshon Hall may fill the roster spot left by the linebacker’s move to Japan.