Tottenham Hotspur Secures Kota Takai
Tottenham Hotspur has successfully secured the transfer of Japanese defender Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale, signing him to a five-year deal that extends until 2030. This acquisition marks the inaugural signing for new head coach Thomas Frank, who takes the reins following a tenure marked by loans orchestrated by former manager Ange Postecoglou.
Transfer Details
The deal for the 20-year-old Takai, who is also part of the Japan national team, was finalized for £5 million (approximately $6.8 million or 1 billion Japanese yen). This figure sets a new benchmark as the highest fee for a player from Japan’s J League moving to an international team.
Player Performance
In his recent stint at Kawasaki, Takai notched up 28 appearances for his club during the 2025 season and has also represented his country four times. He played a pivotal role in assisting Kawasaki Frontale in clinching the Japanese Super Cup in 2024, earning recognition as the country’s top young talent in the same year.
Tottenham’s Defensive Lineup
In terms of Tottenham’s defensive lineup, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven emerged as the prime central defensive duo last season under Postecoglou. Although Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso also fit into the center-back category for the squad, injuries during the 2024-25 season saw Archie Gray, normally a midfielder, stepping into defense.
Additional Transfers
Additionally, Danso and Mathys Tel, who were previously on loan from Lens and Bayern Munich, have both turned their temporary stints into permanent transfers this summer. Furthermore, teenage defender Luka Vuskovic is set to join Spurs from Hajduk Split, following an agreement reached last year.
