Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of highly-rated Japanese defender Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale in a deal worth £5million. The 20-year-old becomes the second addition of the Thomas Frank era, following the permanent arrival of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
Takai, who now holds the record for the highest J-League transfer fee for a Japanese player, has long set his sights on a move to Europe. Despite being relatively unknown to Spurs fans, the confident centre-back has never doubted that this moment would come.
Speaking on Kawasaki Frontale’s website last year, Takai expressed his ambition to learn English fluently, citing Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk as his footballing idol. Now a Premier League player, he will no doubt relish the chance to go head-to-head with the Dutchman when Tottenham meet Liverpool next season.
A pacey and self-assured centre-half, Takai is expected to challenge for first-team minutes alongside the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin. Like Tel, he is not viewed as a long-term prospect but one capable of making an immediate impact.
Japanese football expert Dan Orlowitz, formerly of the Japan Times, said it was only a matter of time before Takai made the leap to Europe, though admitted Tottenham’s interest came as something of a surprise.
“I think Tottenham is, let’s be honest, a bit of a surprise in terms of the jump,” Orlowitz told Standard Sport. “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.”
Takai is widely regarded for his athleticism and composure at the back, traits that have drawn attention well beyond Japan. Orlowitz believes that the growth of Japan’s grassroots development has prepared players like Takai for the demands of top European football.
“It’s easier for players to go to England because of Japan’s global success,” he explained. “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.”
Takai already boasts four senior caps for Japan and will be one of five Japanese players currently playing in the Premier League, the 16th in its history.
A gifted all-rounder as a child, Takai once managed to juggle a football a thousand times without letting it touch the ground, according to a 2024 Kawasaki Frontale player survey. From karate and piano to swimming and juggling, he pursued various interests before settling on football – a decision that now appears wholly justified.
With a strong following on social media, including 149,000 followers on @SpursJapan, Takai is sure to be warmly welcomed by Tottenham’s Japanese fanbase as he begins this new chapter in north London.