Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur's interest in Brentford forward Yoane Wissa has been described as unlikely to materialise due to Manchester United's interest in Bees teammate Bryan Mbeumo.

Thomas Frank's rebuild at Spurs is underway, and the Danish boss appears keen on an offensive revolution, with Mohammed Kudus his first major forward signing.

The club could also be set to add Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, though the transfer could become a prolonged saga after Forest threatened to complain to the Premier League.

Tottenham have been reported to hold interest in more offensive additions, with Frank's former player Wissa linked with a reunion.

However, Football Insider have claimed that because Manchester United are keen on signing Mbeumo, Brentford have no intention of also selling Wissa in the same transfer window.

Would Wissa make sense?

Wissa enjoyed an excellent season at the Gtech Community Stadium, as while Mbeumo often took the headlines, he himself managed to score 19 Premier League goals.

The forward netted 12 times in 2023-24 - proving that he can consistently contribute in the final third - and his familiarity with Frank's system would make him a strong stylistic fit at Spurs.

Perhaps the only drawback with the attacker is the fact that he will be 29 in September, and handing out a long-term contract to someone approaching their thirties is risky.

What next for Frank?

Though Tottenham could line up next season with a revamped forward line, Frank will still have to address his side's defensive frailties.

The club conceded 65 goals last term - the fifth worst return in the division - so perhaps signing defensive-minded players would be of benefit to the club.

Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany does not believe that Pep Guardiola’s side can be entirely ruled out of the race to sign Morgan Gibbs-White just yet.

The 25-year-old was strongly linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer, but the Citizens were allegedly unwilling to meet Nottingham Forest’s £100m asking price for the midfielder.

It has since emerged that Gibbs-White has a £60m release clause in his contract at the City Ground which was activated by Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur last week.

Forest are said to consider Gibbs-White's proposed move to Spurs to be off for now, though, while they consult their lawyers over potential legal action, as they believe Spurs made an illegal approach to the player and never granted permission for them to speak to him.

It remains unclear over whether Forest are able to block the transfer entirely, but Gibbs-White’s proposed move to North London is now expected to be delayed as Forest prepare a complaint to the Premier League.

Spurs are said to remain confident about their chances of signing Gibbs-White, who reported to Forest for pre-season training on Monday, but McInerney has suggested that Man City may consider reigniting their interest in the England international.

Gibbs-White to Man City ‘not impossible’ despite Spurs interest

McInerney claims that Gibbs-White was expecting a move to Man City earlier this summer, but reports of a potential switch to the Etihad soon cooled following the arrivals of playmaker Rayan Cherki and midfielder Tijjani Reijnders ahead of the Club World Cup.

Although Spurs appear to be at the front of the queue to sign Gibbs-White, McInerney has suggested that Pep Guardiola's side may contemplate going back in for Forest’s No.10 if his move to North London collapses and if either Ilkay Gundogan or Mateo Kovacic leave the Etihad in the near future.

Speaking to Sports Mole about the possibility of Man City renewing their interest in Gibbs-White, McInerney said: “I don't think it's impossible. I don't expect it, but football is a strange old game and anything can happen at any moment, so more fool the man who rules it out.

“I expect City have sort of moved on from him overall. There were some rumours that it was Cherki or Gibbs-White and Guardiola chose Cherki. You do wonder how much the fee played into that.

“I think largely Cherki is a better number 10, so if it was an option of [choosing a number] 10 out of those two players, you understand why Guardiola’s gone for Cherki who is an absurdly gifted creator and a lot more akin to [Kevin] De Bruyne in terms of his overall output in terms of creativity.

“There was a shot of Guardiola talking to Gibbs-White after [City’s FA Cup semi-final win over Forest] and it looked like one of those chats where he's like: ‘I'll see you soon mate’.

Gibbs-White “expected” Man City move earlier this summer

“[It seemed] all but confirmed when that was happening at the time and I know in semi-person as well that Gibbs-White was actually expecting a move to Man City to happen, and it just shows you how fickle things can be in football. They can move so quickly and for whatever reason it looks like he's set to join Spurs.

“I really like Gibbs-White. I think he's a cracking player. I do wonder how much his transfer was tied to other potential departures (at City) as well. I know we just talked about him being a 10 and either him or Cherki, but I do think there was a world that existed where it could have been Cherki and Gibbs-White.

“But that might have coincided with maybe one of Gundogan or Bernardo Silva maybe stepping out the door a little bit earlier. Maybe with Kovacic and his future sorted out, it looks like he's just going to be here, we don't know given he was injured during the Club World Cup.

“Maybe had Bernardo or Gundogan moved on, maybe City would have pulled the trigger and gone for Gibbs-White, but then you've got that issue with the fee.”

Sharing his thoughts on Gibbs-White’s valuation and release clause, McInerney added: “Now City were quoted £100m and that is obviously absurd. He's nowhere near that. You do wonder what's going on with the release clause. Were there some rumours about it only activating on a certain date?

“We can all be naive and act like clubs don't know these things, but they do know. There's no way his agent isn't going to get Man City to know that he's got a release clause that he could activate.

“City under (outgoing sporting director) Txiki Begiristain have been very good at activating release clauses. They love a release clause because it's an easy transfer and it gets you through the door nice and easily with very little negotiation.

“Maybe they didn't know, or maybe it's genuinely the case that not enough players have left City. It does look like Bernardo’s definitely going to stay. I presume Kovacic will. I felt Gundogan was going to go but it's gone a bit quiet on that front as well. Who knows, maybe they're just on holiday right now.”

“Forest and Spurs might have done the dirty work” for City to sign Gibbs-White

Not only is Gibbs-White a “very talented player” who recorded seven goals and 10 assists in 34 Premier League games for Forest last season, but he is also a homegrown player which appeals to a Man City side seeking to comply with homegrown quota rules for next season.

“Having said all that, there's still a small possibility of Gibbs-White becoming a City player,” said McInerney. “Forest and Spurs might have done the dirty work for City there. Maybe the release clause is out and up in the air now.

“If Gundogan moves on and it turns out Kovacic's future's up in the air a little bit after his injury, they might still go in for Gibbs-White, given the fact that they need homegrown players, but I don't really know. It is a mad mess.

“He's a very talented player and personally I wouldn't say no, but I think we've probably made our decision already.”

McInerney has also shared his thoughts on why Cherki “could be special” and ‘understands the logic’ behind Man City’s decision to prioritise the 21-year-old over Gibbs-White earlier this summer.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are both reportedly interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha during this summer's transfer window.

Palhinha only made the move to Bayern from Fulham last summer, but he struggled to show his best form for the German giants last term, being restricted to just 25 appearances in all competitions.

The Portugal international was a star for Fulham, though, scoring eight goals and registering one assist in 79 appearances, establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in England's top flight.

According to CaughtOffside, both Man United and Tottenham are interested in bringing the 30-year-old back to the Premier League this summer, but a loan deal is not thought to be possible.

The report claims that Bayern want in the region of €30m (£26m) for Palhinha, who still has another three years left to run on his contract with the Bundesliga champions.

Man United, Tottenham 'interested' in Palhinha

Tottenham have signed two defenders and two forwards this summer, and central midfield is certainly an area which the club want to strengthen before the end of the summer transfer window.

Palhinha is proven in England's top flight, and Spurs can offer Champions League football to new signings, having beaten Man United in last season's Europa League final.

Man United, meanwhile, have signed an attacker and a defender this summer, and like Spurs, they are expected to bolster their midfield before the end of the market.

Christian Eriksen's departure on a free transfer has opened up a space in midfield, but bringing in Palhinha would go against their transfer policy of targeting young players rather than established stars.

How will this one play out?

Palhinha is believed to be reluctant to give up on his Bayern career, but if it becomes clear that he will continue to struggle for minutes next season, then a departure is likely.

Indeed, the midfielder will want to be playing regularly in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, and both Man United and Tottenham would be able to offer him Premier League action.

Man United are thought to lead the English interest, but the fact that the Red Devils will not play in Europe during the 2025-26 campaign could count against them when it comes to the battle for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma supposedly intends to remain in North London during the summer transfer window despite interest from across Europe.

After shining alongside Pape Sarr during the 2023-24 campaign, Bissouma slipped down the pecking order at Tottenham last season and is now in the final 12 months of his contract.

As things stand, no extension for the Mali international is forthcoming, and there was an expectation that he would be sold this summer to avoid the risk of a free transfer in 2026.

Last week, it was claimed that Juventus viewed Bissouma as a 'standout option' for the summer window, as the Old Lady scope out suitable replacements for the under-performing Douglas Luiz.

The former Aston Villa midfielder is already being linked with an exit from Turin after just one season, and both the Lions and Manchester United are rumoured to be keeping tabs on developments.

Bissouma 'expresses desire' to stay at Spurs this summer

Owing to his contract situation, it was reported that Spurs would be prepared to sanction the 28-year-old's sale for as little as €15m (£13m) this summer, although they would ideally like to pocket closer to €20m (£17.3m).

However, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Bissouma has 'expressed a desire' to continue at Tottenham for the final year of his current contract at the very least.

Tavolieri adds that a handful of European clubs have been monitoring his situation closely, including AC Milan and Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce, the latter of whom have apparently been in contact with him.

The midfielder's first choice is to remain in North London, though, and even if Tottenham do decide to part ways with him this summer, he would prefer to move to another Premier League club than trying his hand in a different league.

Since joining the Lilywhites in a £25.2m deal from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022, Bissouma has struck two goals in 100 appearances for Spurs, playing the full 90 minutes in last season's Europa League final win over Manchester United.

Bissouma wants to stay, but who could be sold?

As Spurs do not appear close to bolstering their midfield ranks, retaining Bissouma's services is surely a no-brainer from a sporting point of view, as Thomas Frank needs every troop possible for the imminent Champions League campaign.

The Europa League winners are still yet to make a serious sale this summer; besides a few free agents, the only departures have been Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - whose Marseille loan was converted into a permanent deal - and Alejo Veliz, who has returned to Rosario Central on a temporary basis.

However, more exits are anticipated between now and September 1, especially up front, where Richarlison, Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil should all be on the hunt for new stomping grounds this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are still confident that a deal for Nottingham Forest attacker Morgan Gibbs-White will be completed as they see any delay as ultimately inevitable, the latest reports have claimed.

Spurs look set to back manager Thomas Frank considerably this summer, with forward Mohammed Kudus signing for a fee of £55m from West Ham United.

The Londoners had also reportedly agreed to trigger Nottingham Forest star Gibbs-White's release clause, believed to be worth £60m.

However, the deal was placed in jeopardy after Forest threatened to make an official complaint to the Premier League regarding what they claim was an illegitimate approach to the player.

A report from football.london says that Tottenham see the delay in the transfer as an inevitable one, and add that Forest fear they may be powerless to stop a deal from materialising.

Tottenham's impressive attacking depth

Gibbs-White is capable of playing across the forward line, with his creativity, passing ability and technical quality making him a considerable threat from any position.

The 25-year-old was often utilised by Forest in an attacking midfield role, from where he managed to score seven goals and provide eight assists in the Premier League last season.

Kudus has also proven versatile in attack, and his ability to carry the ball at speed over long distances adds significant pace to Tottenham's attack.

Winger Brennan Johnson is a renowned speedster, Dejan Kulusevski is a powerful athlete and Mathys Tel is adept at running behind opposition defensive lines.

Few teams would be as threatening during counter-attacks, and perhaps Frank is aiming to construct a side capable of succeeding in transition, a style that would contrast with previous boss Ange Postecoglou's more patient approach in the final third.

Spurs would also still boast the likes of Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Son Heung-min and youngster Wilson Odobert in their ranks, and their attacking depth would arguably be among the best in the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly considering legal action against Tottenham Hotspur over their interest in midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

Reports came out on Thursday that Spurs were in discussion over a move for the England international.Â

Manchester City were interested in signing the 25-year-old, and they reportedly had agreed on personal terms with the player. However, Spurs moved ahead in the race and Gibbs-White was scheduled to undergo his medical at the North London club on Friday after they triggered his release clause.Â

According to a report from BBC Sport, Forest are ready to take legal action against Tottenham as they believe that a specific confidentiality agreement in the £60m release clause in Gibbs-White's contract has been breached.

Forest are 'furious'Â at Tottenham's conduct in their attempt to sign the England midfielder, and the deal now could be in jeopardy.

Gibbs-White transfer saga could turn uglyÂ

The report claims that Forest have not given Tottenham permission to speak to Gibbs-White.

Under Premier League rules, no clubs can speak to players contracted to another club without their permission, and it appears that Spurs may have violated this rule while attempting to lure Gibbs-White.Â

Tottenham are hopeful that a deal can be secured, but at the same time, they are also aware of the current situation.Â

Forest have now sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United, and it will be a massive blow for them to lose Gibbs-White as well; they could try to make the process difficult for Spurs, and the transfer saga could take an ugly shape.Â

Gibbs-White would be a fantastic signing for SpursÂ

The midfielder joined Forest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a move worth up to £42.5m in August 2022, signing a five-year deal.

The Englishman quickly became a key player for the club, making 118 appearances in three years at Forest, scoring 18 goals and providing 28 assists.

Tottenham have agreed a £55m deal with West Ham United for Mohammed Kudus, and they have also signed promising Japanese defender Kota Taka. Furthermore, Spurs have converted loan deals for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso into permanent contracts.Â

Gibbs-White can play across all three midfield positions, but he has been more effective in the central attacking midfield role. His ability to find key passes could help Tottenham reach new heights, but it will not be easy to secure the deal, especially if Forest take the route of legal action.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United for a reported £55m fee.

The Ghana international has penned a long-term contract with the Europa League winners - understood to be a six-year agreement until the end of the 2030-31 season - and becomes their fifth permanent signing of the summer window.

Kudus joins Luka Vuskovic, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso and Kota Takai at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which was his number one destination for a summer move despite apparent interest from Chelsea.

The Blues could have also offered Kudus the chance to play in next season's Champions League, but the 24-year-old only had eyes for North London, where he will compete in Europe's top competition during the 2025-26 season.

Kudus departs West Ham having amassed 19 goals and 13 assists in 80 appearances for the Irons in all competitions since his switch from Ajax in 2023, including five strikes and three helpers from 32 Premier League games in 2024-25.

The versatile attacker is the first player to move directly from West Ham to Spurs in 14 years, following in the footsteps of Scott Parker, who left the Irons to join the Lilywhites in 2011.

Kudus's shirt number confirmed ahead of possible imminent debut

As expected, Kudus has been bestowed with the number 20 shirt at Tottenham, the same jersey he wears for the Ghana national team and also donned during his time at Ajax.

Spurs' '20' became vacant when backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster left the club at the end of his contract this summer, although its most famous incumbent was Dele Alli, who was Tottenham's number 20 for seven seasons.

Kudus will endeavour to exhibit similarly proficient playmaking and goalscoring skills as Alli did in his playing heyday, and the former could make his Spurs debut as early as next weekend.

Thomas Frank's side begin their pre-season away to League One side Reading on July 19, although the club have confirmed that Kudus's arrival is still subject to a work permit.

However, the 24-year-old should receive the necessary documentation imminently, also allowing him to make his competitive Tottenham debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on August 13.

The first marquee arrival of the Thomas Frank era at Tottenham Hotspur should be announced imminently, as Mohammed Kudus will soon complete his £55m switch from West Ham United to the Europa League champions.

The two capital counterparts are understood to have agreed on a fee for the Ghana international on Wednesday after the player made it clear that he only had eyes for Tottenham, also turning down interest from Chelsea in the process.

Such is Kudus's versatility that the ex-Ajax man could operate anywhere across the frontline - even as an auxiliary number nine - but a role in Dominic Solanke's supporting cast is more likely.

The 24-year-old could potentially inherit Son Heung-min's left-wing spot, compete with Brennan Johnson for starts on the right, or rival James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the right to act as Spurs' most advanced midfielder.

With all that in mind, Sports Mole takes a deeper dive into how Kudus statistically compares to Johnson, Kulusevski, Son and Maddison, using data from FBref from the 2024-25 Premier League season.

Kudus comparison: Goalscoring/shooting

First and foremost, all of Kudus, Maddison, Son, Johnson and Kulusevski made between 30 and 33 Premier League appearances last season, although the former played the most minutes with 2,590 and Maddison the fewest with 1,809.

However, the man who spent the most amount of time on the field found the back of the net the fewest times, as Kudus managed just five Premier League goals in the 2024-25 season, down from eight in the 2023-24 campaign.

Johnson leads the way in this five-strong list with 11 strikes, while Maddison managed nine, Kulusevski seven and Son seven for a Spurs side who had no problems creating and finishing chances, but it was a different story entirely at the other end of the pitch.

Kudus's quintet of strikes came from 75 shots last term - none of the Spurs quartet had more attempts in the league - and he only found the target with 21 of those efforts, a shots to shots-on-target ratio of 28%.

That percentage is the worst of its kind on this list - Son and Maddison are joint first with 43.6% each - and the latter pair's ratios are even more impressive considering their shots were the furthest distance from goal on average.

While Kudus is more than happy to let fly and can produce a spectacular or two from time to time - see Manchester City on the final day of the 2023-24 season - improving the Ghanaian's ruthlessness in front of goal should be a priority on Frank's agenda.

Kudus comparison: Assisting/playmaking

The face-value numbers do Kudus little good here either, as the 24-year-old set up just three goals in the 2024-25 Premier League season, having previously registered nine assists in the 2023-24 campaign.

Meanwhile, Son led the way with nine helpers in the top flight, while Maddison set up seven goals, Kulusevski four and Johnson just three alongside his soon-to-be teammate - although individual assist numbers also say a lot about the quality of a side's overall finishing.

While Kudus only managed a trio of assists, the £55m man sits third in the list for shot-creating actions with 107 to his name - even more than Maddison - and his 10 goal-creating actions also trump Kulusevski's nine.

However, Maddison still has the edge when it comes to shot-creating actions per 90 minutes with an average of 4.73, while Kudus sits second-last in that category with 3.72 per 90, only above Johnson's 1.9.

Unsurprisingly, a greater proportion of Kudus's SCAs and GCAs than the Tottenham quartet came from shots; 12 of his efforts led to another attempt, while three of them preceded a goalscoring strike.

Also ranking lower than Maddison, Son and Kulusevski for progressive passes and key passes, Kudus should leave the bulk of the playmaking to one of Spurs' designated number 10s while he attempts to wreak havoc with the ball at his feet.

Kudus comparison: Passing/possession

Kudus may not match up to some of his soon-to-be Spurs colleagues in pure goals and assists, but there is one area where the former Ajax man sits head and shoulders above the rest - unless your name is Jeremy Doku.

Indeed, the 24-year-old completed a staggering 92 successful take-ons from 208 attempts in the 2024-25 Premier League season, by far and away the most in this comparison and the second-most in the top flight behind the Manchester City winger's 107.

All together, Kulusevski, Son, Johnson and Maddison 119 successful take-ons between them, and Kudus also boasts the highest success rate out of the five with 44.2%, despite more attempts naturally also leading to more failures.

Kudus will evidently bring a new dimension to Tottenham's attack in that regard, but he is not as extraordinary a ball carrier; his 98 progressive carries in the 2024-25 Premier League is some way behind Kulusevski's 120, while Son's 44 carries into the penalty area slightly trumps the Ghanaian's 42.

Furthermore, Kudus was dispossessed on more occasions than any of the Tottenham four, losing the ball 93 times in such scenarios, which do not include attempted take-ons either; for comparison, Johnson was dispossessed on just 17 occasions.

However, Kudus can also help Spurs retain possession through winning free kicks, having drawn 64 fouls in the league in 2024-25, level with Maddison at the top of this five-man column.

The African's overall passing success rate of 83.6% is the best out of the five, although he did attempt the second-fewest passes with 855; Maddison, meanwhile, tops the charts with 1,256.

Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is adept at picking out a teammate from a distance; he also leads the way in completed passes between 15 and 30 yards with an 88.9% success rate, as well as an unrivalled 68.2% success rate for long passes travelling 30 yards or more.

The latter category is boosted by Kudus's 13 switches of play - Kulusevski, Maddison, Son and Johnson registered just 11 between them - and such numbers suggest that Kudus's assist statistics will almost certainly be on the rise from next season.

Kudus comparison: Defensive actions

This category will certainly not make or break Kudus's transfer to Tottenham, but for what it is worth, the former Ajax playmaker won a respectable 23 tackles from 38 attempts in last season's top flight, the joint-second most on this list behind Johnson's 26.

However, Kudus also made two mistakes that directly led to an opponent's shot in the 2024-25 Premier League; Maddison, Son and Kulusevski each made one such error, while Johnson was not guilty of any.

The Ghanaian was also the only one to be sent off in last season's top division - seeing red for his violent outburst against none other than Spurs - although he was only booked twice, the second-fewest on the list above Son's solitary yellow card.

That is in spite of Kudus committing the second-most fouls out of the five - bringing down an opponent 39 times - and his 21.6% aerial duel win rate puts him bottom of that list too.

Then again, the 5ft 10in attacker did attempt significantly more battles off the ground than the rest - contesting 51 and losing 40 of them - while none of the other four competed in more than 27 aerial duels.

Kudus also recovered more loose balls than Son, Maddison, Kulusevski and Johnson with 138, and with the necessary tweaks to his attacking game, Spurs will have a very exciting and unique talent on their hands.

No Bryan Mbeumo? No problem for Thomas Frank and Tottenham Hotspur, who are reportedly on the verge of bringing versatile West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus to the home of the Europa League winners.

While Chelsea were prepared to rival Spurs for the Ghana international's signature, potentially with the promise of a seven or eight-year contract, Kudus only had eyes for a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

The 24-year-old's wish is about to be granted, as West Ham are now understood to have accepted a £55m bid from Frank's side, and Kudus will undergo his medical in the coming hours ahead of an announcement, which could potentially come as early as Thursday.

Ahead of Kudus's unveiling, Sports Mole takes a look at the shirt numbers that the former Ajax man could take at Tottenham.

Throughout his three-year spell at the London Stadium, Kudus has donned the '14' on his back for West Ham, a jersey which was memorably worn by Luka Modric and David Ginola at White Hart Lane.

However, defensive prodigy Archie Gray is currently in possession of that shirt at Tottenham, although the Lilywhites' number two and number three jerseys are vacant following Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilon's departures.

Such shirts would be more traditional for a full-back, but Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie may be given first refusal on those given their standing in the pecking order, so Gray will likely retain the '14' for now.

Before earning his Premier League stars, Kudus was Ajax's number 20, and the adaptable attacker has almost always donned the same shirt for the Ghana national team, as well as a brief stint as their number 10.

James Maddison is in no position to relinquish the '10' jersey, but Tottenham's number 20 shirt is awaiting its next taker after the exit of its previous incumbent Fraser Forster.

Kudus could emulate Dele Alli with Tottenham shirt number

It would be somewhat fitting if Kudus was to take on the number 20 shirt at Tottenham, as that is the same jersey that fellow playmaker Dele Alli donned for seven years in North London between 2015 and 2022.

Kudus taking the number 20 may therefore be written in the stars, although there are a plethora of other unattached shirts that the Ghana international could select from this summer.

The number 12 that Gary Lineker once wore is also without an occupier, although that shirt has been exclusively worn by defenders and goalkeepers in the 21st century at Tottenham; Emerson Royal was the last to wear it.

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of highly rated Japanese centre-back Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale in a deal worth £5m. The 20-year-old has penned a contract with the Premier League side until June 2030.

Takai becomes Spurs’ third arrival of the summer window, following a breakthrough campaign in the J League, where he had established himself as a regular starter for Kawasaki since 2023. His consistency and aerial prowess caught the attention of the North London club, who acted swiftly to finalise the move.

The defender bolsters a backline that came under heavy criticism last season, having suffered from a string of injuries. He will now compete for a place alongside Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, Kevin Danso and Luka Vuskovic.

Who is Kota Takai?

Takai rose through the youth ranks at Kawasaki Frontale and was promoted to the first team in 2022, making his senior debut at just 17 in an 8-0 AFC Champions League victory over Guangzhou. He went on to make 81 appearances for the club, winning the 2023 Emperor’s Cup and the 2024 Japanese Super Cup.

Standing at 1.93m tall, the centre-back was named the J League’s Young Player of the Year in 2024, with his dominance in aerial duels seen as a key asset in both boxes.

Internationally, Takai was a standout performer in Japan’s triumph at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup and also featured at the Paris Olympics, where Japan reached the quarter-finals. He made his senior international debut later that year in a World Cup qualifier against China and has since earned four caps for the Blue Samurai.

Takai impressed against Cristiano Ronaldo

Takai made headlines in May for his performance against Cristiano Ronaldo during Kawasaki’s 3-2 victory over Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League semi-final. The young defender impressed with his physicality and composure, limiting Ronaldo to just two shots on target.

Despite Kawasaki falling to Al-Ahli in the final, Takai’s displays throughout the tournament underlined his potential and further justified Tottenham’s investment.

Spurs will now hope the Japan international can adapt quickly to English football and help provide much-needed depth in Ange Postecoglou’s defensive unit ahead of the 2025-26 season.