Tottenham Hotspur has announced the signing of Kota Takai from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale, subject to international clearance and work permit.
The Japanese defender has put pen to paper on a contract with the Spurs that will exist until 2030.
Kota, born in Yokohama, scaled through the ranks at Kawasaki Frontale and, at just 17 years of age, clinched his first team debut in April, 2022, coming in an 8-0 triumph over Guangzhou in the AFC Champions League.
The 20-year old defender soon emerged a constant player in the senior team, recording twenty-one (21) appearances the following campaign encompassing four (4) outings in the team’s run to lifting the 2023 Japanese Cup (Emperor’s Cup).
A pivotal player in the defense, Kota did not stop to impress and helped the Azzurro Nero to the 2024 Japanese Super Cup.
Subsequently that year, he bagged recognition for his performances, winning the J.League’s Best Young Player award.
During his spell with Japanese top flight, Kawasaki Frontale, he amassed eighty-one (81) senior appearances in all competitions, netting on four occasions and, last term, helped his side to the 2025 AFC Champions League final.
For his country, Kota has fielded across multiple age levels and, in 2024, was very essential in his country’s campaign to glory at the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup.
Kota also represented Japan at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament.
