The defender’s last appearance in the tournament came in the 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the second leg of the 2017 final as the 2-1 aggregate victory saw the Japanese team add to their 2007 title to become Continental champions for a second time.

Urawa failed to qualify for the 2018 edition, however, meaning Makino and his teammates had to watch on as domestic rivals Kashima Antlers were crowned kings of Asia. But the Saitama side secured their return to the AFC Champions League after winning the Emperor’s Cup at the end of last year.

From the likes of household names in Keisuke Honda of Melbourne Victory and Bafetimbi Gomis at Al Hilal to prolific scorers like Al Ahli's Djaniny and Buriram United's Diogo, there will be plenty of new stars set to shine on Asian club football's grandest stage in this year's continental competition.

While the above have already spent several months at their new clubs, or previously appeared in the AFC Champions League, we look at some of the most recent signings and reveal what they could bring to their teams at the 2019 edition.

Zhang began his professional career with Hangzhou Greentown after graduating from the club’s youth academy in 2015. Shortly after, the 22-year-old made a move to Eredivisie side SBV Vitesse for two years.

In 2017, Zhang signed with Albion, where he was subsequently loaned out to German club Werder Bremen and Netherlands side ADO Den Haag in 2018.

Of the 11 who started Tuesday's AFC Champions League Play-off for defending champions Kashima, only new signing Ito had not been a part of the historic triumph in Tehran last November.

But the former Yokohama F. Marinos forward took little time in adjusting to the continental game, opening the scoring at Kashima Soccer Stadium in the 18th minute with his maiden goal for the club.

Ulsan secured their place in the 2019 AFC Champions League Group Stage after recording an emphatic 5-1 win against Malaysia's Perak in a play-off tie on Tuesday.

The 2005 Continental champions won the Korea Football Association (FA) Cup in 2017 under Kim's management, and the 48-year-old coach wants the same success in the domestic league, as well as the AFC Champions League.

Browning made just nine appearances in all competitions for Everton after emerging from the Premier League team's youth academy.

The 24-year-old played 29 times on loan for Sunderland during the 2017-18 season as the Black Cats were relegated from the Championship.

Browning was unable to break into the Everton line-up under new boss Marco Silva and had spent the current campaign playing for the club's Under-23 side.

"Defender Tyias Browning has joined Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for an undisclosed fee," a statement on Everton's website announced.

“The club board decided after reviewing the team's recent results, which were not up to our hopes, to end the coach's contract and appoint Jose Luis Sierra as the new coach,” the club announced on their social media channels.

Al Ittihad, who agreed a three-year-deal with Bilic in September last year, have struggled to find form in the domestic league under the Croatian and are second from bottom in the standings.