Newly signed Tottenham defender Kota Takai has revealed his best quality after completing a transfer from Kawasaki Frontale.
The £5million deal is the largest sale in J-League history. The player has signed a five-year contract.
Takai is regarded as one of Japan’s most promising talents, and was named Japan’s Young Player of the Year in 2024. Still just 20 years old, he already has four senior international caps to his name and is expected to play a first-team role under Thomas Frank next season.
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Speaking publicly for the first time since signing, the defender highlighted his positional versatility and wealth of early-career experience as his best attributes.
"My position is centre-back,” he explained, speaking in his native Japanese via Tottenham’s Instagram page. “I can play either side - right or left.”
He was promoted to Kawasaki Frontale’s first team in 2022, debuting in an 8-0 win over Guangzhou shortly after. Already with 60 senior league appearances to his name - the most recent of which came just three days ago - he is prepared to hit the ground running in N17.
"I played in the match with Kawasaki Frontale in the J-League on Saturday and I got on the plane the next day and I'm here today, now.
"Having arrived in London I'm full of excitement."
He added that the J-League’s quality had prepared him well for life in England: "The J-League has very high intensity, and its level is high. I won the Young Player Award last year and I was very happy.
“I joined Team Japan. It was always my dream. I remember I had goosebumps when I went on the pitch for the first team as part of the national team.”
A lifelong Premier League fan, he is looking forward to making his Lilywhites debut, which could come as early as next Saturday as Spurs face Reading in their first preseason friendly.
"I've always watched the Premier League a lot, since I was little. At Spurs, my first aim is to be on the pitch for a match and do my best.
"I was born in Kanagawa, Japan. I've always played football since my childhood. The reason why I love football is because as a team we can improve our skills together.”
