Keisuke Honda
After having lost prospect with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Ōtsu signed with Dutch Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo until the summer of 2014 on 31 August 2012. He was supposed to succeed his countryman Keisuke Honda who had impressed and made a transfer to AC Milan half a year earlier. However, on 15 December 2013, Ōtsu badly injured his achilles tendon. After a long time rehabilitation, Ōtsu became fit again with the result VVV-Venlo extended his expiring contract until the summer of 2015.