Latest news with #KotaTakai
Mint
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Mint
Who is Kota Takai? 20-year-old Japanese defender set to join Tottenham Hotspur in £5m deal
Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign Japanese defender Kota Takai in a £5 million deal. The 20-year-old will likely join the club next month and he is poised to become a key part of manager Thomas Frank's first-team squad. Kota Takai was born in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, in 2004. He started his football journey with River FC during his initial years. His talent was recognised and soon he got recruited by the J-League side Kawasaki Frontale's academy. Takai honed his skills and became a significant central defender for the team. Takai made his senior debut in April 2022, when he featured in an 8-0 victory over Guangzhou and marked the start of his professional career on a high note. The 2022/23 season was special for Takai, as he made 21 appearances for Kawasaki Frontale. He scored his first senior goal in May 2024. Takai's contributions helped Kawasaki win the Japanese Super Cup in 2024 and he also earned the title of Japan's best young player that year. Kota Takai's rapid rise extended to the international stage. He earned his first senior cap for Japan in September 2024, when he replaced Borussia Monchengladbach's Ko Itakura. They won the World Cup qualifier by 7-0 against China. Since then, he has added three more caps, including a full 90-minute performance in a 6-0 victory over Indonesia and a brief appearance in a loss to Australia. Takai also represented Japan's Under-23 team at the 2024 AFC Asian Cup and played an important role in their 1-0 final win over Uzbekistan to clinch the title. He also played in the 2024 Olympic Games and powered Japan to reach the quarterfinals. Kota Takai is a modern center-back who stood out in the J1-League. He has started every match this season, scoring twice, and has also made nine appearances in the AFC Champions League. His performance against Al Nassr in April 2024, where Kawasaki Frontale defeated a star-studded side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane 3-2 was appreciated worldwide. Takai's versatility and maturity have drawn comparisons to Tottenham's young stars like Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie. Tottenham Hotspurs' focus is currently on investing in young talents. Takai's signing aligns with the club's vision. The club has already completed deals for Kevin Danso, whose loan move was made permanent, and Mathys Tel for £30 million this summer.
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Tottenham set to sign Japan international defender Kota Takai
Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign defender Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale. Club sources indicate that an agreement for the 20-year-old Japan international has been reached for £5million ($6.8m, 1billion Japanese yen), which would represent a record fee for a player in the J League — the top division of Japanese football — moving overseas. Advertisement Takai, who is into the final six months of his contract at Kawasaki Frontale, has played 28 times at club level in 2025 and has also made four appearances for Japan. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven established themselves as the first choice central defensive pairing at Spurs under previous head coach Ange Postecoglou, while Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso are the other recognised centre-backs in the squad. However, multiple injury setbacks in 2024- 25 meant Archie Gray, a midfielder by trade, was deployed in the centre of defence. Danso and Mathys Tel, who both arrived on loan deals from Lens and Bayern Munich respectively in January, have each made their moves to Spurs permanent this summer, while teenage defender Luka Vuskovic will join Spurs from Hajduk Split after a deal was agreed in 2023. ()
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Spurs agree £5m deal for Japan's Takai
Tottenham have agreed a £5 million deal to sign Japan international Kota Takai from J-League side Kawasaki 20-year-old centre-back is expected to arrive at the club next month and will be part of Thomas Frank's first-team has won two caps for Japan's senior side, making his international debut in a World Cup qualifier versus China last played a key role in Kawasaki Frontale winning the Japanese Super Cup in 2024 while also being named the nation's best young player that will compete for a role in the team alongside fellow centre-backs Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin.
