Tottenham sign Japan defender Takai for £5m

KAWASAKI, JAPAN – MAY 14: #02 Kota TAKAI of Kawasaki Frontale in action during the J.LEAGUE MEIJI YASUDA J1 14th Sec. match between Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama FC at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu on May 14, 2025 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by J.LEAGUE/J.LEAGUE via Getty Images)

Tottenham 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 four 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.

He is Tottenham’s third signing of the summer, after the loans of defender Kevin Danso and forward Mathys Tel were made permanent.