BBC · Jul 8, 2025
Tottenham sign Japan defender Takai for £5m
Image caption, Kota Takai made his senior debut for Kawasaki Frontale aged 17 in 2022Tottenham have signed Japan defender Kota Takai from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale for £5m.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract until the summer of 2030 and will be part of Thomas Frank's first-team squad.
Takai has won two caps for Japan's senior side, making his international debut in a World Cup qualifier versus China last September.
The defender 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 year.