Tottenham Hotspur will acquire Japanese defender Gota Takai (21, Kawasaki Frontale).

On the 24th (Korea time), the British outlet Football London reported, "Tottenham has agreed to a surprise transfer for the second signing of the Thomas Frank era. National team center-back Takai is set to leave Kawasaki and join Tottenham."

All agreements have already been completed. The media reported, "Tottenham has agreed to sign Takai, a 20-year-old national team center-back, for a transfer fee of 5 million pounds (approximately 9.2 billion won). As a young defender, he is expected to join Frank's first-team squad for the upcoming season. He will leave Kawasaki during the mid-season of the J-League."

Takai is expected to join the Tottenham squad soon and adapt to the Premier League. Although the possibility of him being loaned out to another team, similar to Yang Min-hyuk, cannot be ruled out, for now, he looks set to train under Manager Frank and aim for a first-team spot.

Football London explained, "Takai will participate in Frank's preseason preparations starting in about two weeks. Turning 21 in September, he has played 19 matches in the J-League this season and 9 matches in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, scoring two goals. He has also put on impressive performances against Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and John Duran in the match against Al Nassr."

Takai is a right-footed central defender boasting a tall height of 192 cm. A product of the Kawasaki youth system, he made his professional debut in 2022 and has never changed teams, being a 'one-club man.' He has contributed as a starter this season, participating in a total of 28 matches.

He is a highly regarded prospect even in Japan. Takai has already made his A-match debut based on his excellent physical and buildup capabilities. He played his first match in the World Cup qualifiers against China last September and has since played in three more matches.

Football London noted, "Despite his young age, Takai has already served as captain at Kawasaki. He is now leaving the Japanese stage with the highest transfer fee in J-League history." It added, "Takai can play as both a left and right center-back. Johan Lange, the Tottenham director, confirmed that he can advance to the Premier League alongside young players like Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr, and Destiny Udogie. Frank has also approved the contract."

Additionally, the media mentioned, "Takai is expected to stay with Tottenham rather than be loaned out. However, he will be evaluated thoroughly through training with Frank and the coaching staff upon his arrival at the club." It added, "He has already played 78 matches at the first-team level and has experience participating in the Olympics and World Cup qualifiers. He is considered as experienced as Bergvall, Sarr, Udogie, and Archie Gray."

Tottenham is preparing for a new era after recently sacking manager Ange Postecoglou and appointing Frank. The team has already completed its first signing, acquiring forward Mathys Tel, who had been on loan for six months. Subsequently, with other targets like Bryan Mbeumo, Eberechi Eze, and Antoine Semenyo being mentioned, Takai is set to be the team's second signing.

Tottenham is set to acquire Takai for 5 million pounds, which is not a small amount as it represents the largest transfer fee for overseas moves in J-League history. Tottenham seems to hold great expectations for Takai's growth potential alongside center-back Luka Buschkovich, born in 2007, who is returning from loan at KVC Westerlo.

However, it remains uncertain whether Takai can immediately secure a place in Tottenham's first team. Although he was recognized as Japan's top young player last year, he must demonstrate his outstanding performance without any adjustment period to secure playing time in a squad that has many center-back options, including Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, and Kevin Danso.

Considering Takai's age and talent, it appears that it won't be a problem if he does not succeed right away. For Tottenham, the 5 million pounds can be interpreted as a 'cost-effective investment.' If he exhibits even a fraction of his potential, a profit can be expected from the increase in market value.

Japan is placing high hopes on Takai's move to Tottenham. Japanese soccer has already produced success stories in the Premier League, such as Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) and Wataru Endo (Liverpool). Now, there are hopes that Takai will follow in the footsteps of Maya Yoshida, who served as the captain of Southampton.

The Japanese outlet Spornichi reported, "If Takai makes his Premier League debut at the age of 20, it will be a significant achievement. He will become the third Japanese center-back to enter the Premier League, following Maya and Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal). The 'treasure' of Japanese defense, Takai, is finally making his mark on the international stage."

Moreover, the media explained, "Takai possesses not only technical skills but also speed, height, and strength. Last year at the Paris Olympics, he participated beyond his age group and stood out, playing full time in 3 out of 4 matches. This summer, various European clubs like Udinese, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Hoffenheim competed for Takai's signature, but he chose the most elite league."

If Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, who has been surrounded by transfer rumors, does not leave the team, he will create a 'Korea-Japan duo' with Takai. Another Korean forward, Yang Min-hyuk, has also returned after completing his loan at Queens Park Rangers. Spornichi noted, "Tottenham has Son Heung-min, a representative forward of South Korea. The performance of Takai and the Japan-Korea representative players is highly anticipated."

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Spurs Global, Tottenham, Spurs Army, Gary Ward social media.

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