Japanese national team defender Kota Takai (20, Kawasaki Frontale) will wear a Tottenham Hotspur jersey. He will become a junior to Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham).
Multiple media outlets, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), reported on the 24th (Korean time) that 'Tottenham has fundamentally agreed to the acquisition of Takai.'
The transfer fee is reported to be about 9.2 billion won (5 million pounds), the highest overseas transfer fee in J-League history.
Takai is currently with Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League. He has participated in 28 matches this season, playing a central role in defense. A center-back with a height of 183 cm, he is right-footed but can also play on both left and right flanks.
He made his debut with the Japan national team in a World Cup qualifier against China in September 2024, gaining experience on the international stage with two A-match appearances.
Tottenham is accelerating efforts to strengthen their defense. They have starting players Cristian Romero and Mickey van de Ven, along with Radou Dragusin and Kevin Danso as backup resources. Luka Buskovic, from Hajduk Split, is also set to join in the upcoming summer transfer market. Buskovic, acquired in 2023, is currently on loan at Belgian club Westerlo.
New Tottenham coach Thomas Frank has preferred an aggressive defensive strategy since his time at Brentford, maintaining a high defensive line and advancing deep into the opponent's territory. The assessment is that Takai's active defensive tendencies align well with Coach Frank's football philosophy.
Takai currently has six months remaining on his contract with Kawasaki. While there are possibilities that he could immediately join the Tottenham first team, some local reports suggest that he may undergo a year-long loan to adapt to the Premier League.
Recently, Japanese players have been making remarkable contributions in the Premier League. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), and Junya Ito (Bournemouth) are notable examples. Takai is being regarded as a defender who can continue this trend.
Considering the relatively low amount of 5 million pounds, this acquisition is evaluated as a 'cost-effective' investment for Tottenham.
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