RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Tottenham have signed Japan international defender Kota Takai from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale.
The 20-year-old has agreed a five-year deal and will compete in central defence with Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin. Tottenham have not disclosed a fee.
The Premier League club said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Kota Takai from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale, subject to international clearance and work permit.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Kota Takai from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale, subject to international clearance and work permit ✍️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 8, 2025
“The Japan international defender has agreed a deal with the club that will run until 2030.”
Takai made his international debut in September in a 7-0 World Cup qualifying win over China having helped his club side to an eighth-placed finish domestically last season.
Takai, who has made four senior appearances for his country, was named Japan’s young player of the year in 2024 having broken into Kawasaki’s first team two years previously.
He made a total of 81 senior appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring four goals, and helped them reach the 2025 AFC Champions League final.
He is the club’s second signing since Thomas Frank was appointed as head coach in place of Ange Postecoglou earlier in June, after Mathys Tel’s six-month loan from Bayern Munich was made permanent.
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