Latest news with #KotaTakai
Nikkei Asia
20-07-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Europe's cut-price raid on J.League talent exposes monetization gap
Sports Spurs' 5m-pound deal for Kota Takai shows how Japan undervalues rising stars Kawasaki Frontale's Kota Takai takes on Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo in the semifinal of the Asian Champions League in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30. Takai's 5 million-pound transfer to Tottenham is the highest for a J. League player moving abroad. © Reuters DAN ORLOWITZ TOKYO -- Newly signed Tottenham center back Kota Takai isn't merely carrying high expectations as the Premier League's latest Japanese import: The 20-year-old's transfer fee of 5 million pounds ($6.7 million) is a record for a Japanese player moving abroad, breaking the 4.5 million pounds set by Kyogo Furuhashi when he moved from Vissel Kobe to Celtic in the summer of 2021. The Yokohama native's transfer is being hailed as a watershed moment for the (Japan Professional Football League) -- and in particular for Kawasaki Frontale, where Takai spent about a decade.
Free Malaysia Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Tottenham sign Japan defender Takai from Kawasaki Frontale
Centreback Kota Takai is a product of Frontale's youth academy. (Reuters pic) LONDON : Tottenham Hotspur have signed Japan defender Kota Takai on a five-year contract from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale, the Premier League club said today. Financial details were not disclosed but British media reports said Europa League champions Tottenham paid a fee of £5 million for the 20-year-old. Takai, a product of Frontale's youth academy, was part of the side that missed out on the Asian Champions League Elite title after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli in the final in May. He has also made four appearances for Japan's national team. Takai is the third centreback to join the north London club this summer, further bolstering their defence after the arrivals of Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split and Kevin Danso, whose loan move from RC Lens was made permanent. Tottenham ended their 17-year trophy drought with their Europa League victory last season, but also endured their worst domestic campaign for nearly half a century and finished 17th in the Premier League.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who is Kota Takai? Tottenham signing ready to step up in bid for immediate first-team role
New arrival: Kota Takai is set to join Tottenham in a £5m deal this summer (Getty Images) Kota Takai may be a relative unknown to Tottenham fans, but the 20-year-old, who has joined in a £5million deal from Kawasaki Frontale, has always known this day would come - the day he became the record J-League sale for a Japanese player. Confident without being arrogant, centre-back Takai has been targeting a move to Europe for many years. Advertisement On Kawasaki Frontale's website in 2023, he stated that his main ambition was to speak English fluently. His footballing idol? Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. He'll have his sights set on getting the better of the Dutch defender when the two teams meet next season, such is his belief that he can challenge for a regular role at Tottenham. Takai will be the second signing of Thomas Frank's reign as Spurs boss after Mathys Tel joined permanently from Bayern Munich. And like Tel, the Japanese international is expected to compete for first-team minutes next season. Japanese football expert Dan Orlowitz, previously of the Japan Times, says it was inevitable that a player of Takai's ability would make the jump to a leading European league, though he admits he was surprised that Tottenham came in for him so soon. Advertisement "I think Tottenham is, let's be honest, a bit of a surprise in terms of the jump, but not a single person who's seen him play over the last couple of years is surprised that he is going to Europe. This was inevitable," Orlowitz tells Standard Sport. A bold and pacey centre-back, Takai is aware of his own ability, and he's not afraid to flaunt it. That will be tested at Tottenham, where he'll be competing for minutes with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin. But his innate assuredness is a strong starting point. "It's easier for players to go to England because of Japan's global success. Japan's global success has come because it has such fantastic grassroots development in terms of churning out player after player who are capable of coming to Europe," Orlowitz explains. Takai is sure to have a strong Japanese following at Tottenham - @SpursJapan have 149,000 followers on X - cheering his every move. Advertisement Whether it is Karate, piano, swimming or juggling - he told Kawasaki Frontale's 2024 survey that as a kid, he juggled a ball a thousand times without dropping it - there is nothing Takai hasn't tried his hand at in the pursuit of a career in professional sport. Takai, capped four times by Japan, eventually landed on football, and his bright future for club and country would suggest he was right to take that step. "I don't think there's a sharp adjustment as far as getting physically ready for Europe,' Orlowitz explains. "I feel like Japan is improving in terms of getting players physically ready to be able to compete in these leagues because they understand that is where a lot of these players are going." Takai will become one of five Japanese players currently playing at a Premier League side and the 16th overall.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tottenham confirm third summer signing as Kota Takai joins in £5m deal
New signing: Kota Takai has now completed his move to Tottenham (Getty Images) Tottenham have announced the signing of young Japanese centre-back Kota Takai. The 20-year-old joins from J-League club Kawasaki Frontale in a deal worth £5million, the biggest fee ever spent on a player from the Japanese top-flight. Takai has signed a five-year contract running until the summer of 2030. Advertisement Takai is expected to be part of head coach Thomas Frank's first-team squad for the new season and could make his debut when Spurs face League One side Reading in their opening pre-season friendly at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on July 19. The young defender bid farewell to Frontale at the weekend, making a speech to fans after his final game at home to Kashima Antlers, and posted a photo of himself flying to London on Sunday. Takai joins Spurs with a burgeoning reputation, having helped Frontale to win the Japanese Super Cup in 2024, and was also named as Japan's best young player in the same year. Advertisement Described as a bold and pacey centre-back, Takai has, despite his tender age, been expected to move to a big European club for some time. Japanese football expert Dan Orlowitz, previously of the Japan Times, told Standard Sport recently: 'Not a single person who's seen him play over the last couple of years is surprised that he is going to Europe. This was inevitable.' Takai - who already has four senior international caps for Japan after making his debut last September - is the third signing of the summer so far for Spurs, who turned the loans of both Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso into permanent deals. He joins Danso, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin in Tottenham's senior central defensive ranks, the latter of whom underwent surgery on an ACL injury in February. Transfer speculation also continues over Romero amid ongoing links to Atletico Madrid. Advertisement Europa League winners Tottenham also want to sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham to kick-start a new era after hiring Frank from Brentford as the successor to the sacked Ange Postecoglou, having been linked with the likes of Antoine Semenyo, Eberechi Eze and Bryan Mbeumo. Meanwhile, reports from TyC Sports in Argentina claim that striker Alejo Veliz is joining Rosario Central on loan for the rest of 2025.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why English teams are raiding Japan for talent: Inside the 'Project DNA' revolution, the bargains available and the role that West Ham played in a Far East takeover
There is more to Kota Takai's move to Tottenham than meets the eye. Not only is £5million the biggest fee ever paid for a player out of Japan's top flight, but part of a fast-developing trend that is no accident. Wataru Endo is a Premier League champion with Liverpool, Daichi Kamada an winner with and Kaoru Mitoma continues to mesmerise at , where he scored one of the best goals of last season.
