Tottenham's willingness to release Son Heung-min has changed to pro-Japanese? → Recruitment of defensive star Takai Kota
Jul 08, 2025
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Tottenham Hotspur, which continues to express its willingness to cut ties with Son Heung-min, who gave the team a trophy for the first time in 17 years, has officially recruited Japanese Supernova defender Takai Kota.
Tottenham announced on the 8th (Korea Standard Time) that it had signed a contract with Takai by 2030. Takai, from Yokohama, Japan, made his professional first team debut at the Kawasaki Frontale in 2022 at the age of 17. He then won the J-League's Best Young Player Award in 2024. Takai had a farewell match against Kashima Antlers in the 23rd round of the J-League in the 2025 season in Kawasaki in May.
Takai, a tall center back with a height of 1m92, is considered to be excellent in aerial ball competition and build-up ability. The Japanese national team has also played four A matches since its A-match debut in September last year, and has been evaluated as a rising pillar of Japan.
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The British media Standard is also expected to be included in Tottenham's first-team squad in the 2025-2026 season. He said he could make his Tottenham debut in the first pre-season match against Reading on the 19th, adding that `Takai is considered a bold and fast center back.'
Tottenham then brought Takai to the third transfer market this summer, following Matistel and Kevin Danso. In the future, Takai predicted that he will play as a centre-back for Tottenham along with Mickey van der Ben, Christian Romero, Danso and Radu Dragusin.
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Tottenham are preparing to break up with Son Heung-min, who has devoted himself to the team for the past decade. Instead of renewing his contract with Son Heung-min, who is about to expire, he triggered the "1 year extension option" in January. Son Heung-min is a member of Tottenham until the summer of 2026. But Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy no longer wants to keep Son. It focuses on selling Son Heung-min to the transfer market this summer, when transfer fees are incurred, based on the 'aging curve'.
Already, new coach Thomas Frank seems to have joined 'erase Son Heung-min' Coach Frank plans to use Son Heung-min as a rotation resource, not as a main player, if he remains in the team. He is already trying to hand over the captain's position to another player.
John Wenham, the operator of Tottenham's largest community 'LilyWhite Rose' and who is familiar with the news inside the club, said in an exclusive interview with Britain 'Tottenham Hotspur News' on the 6th that `If Son Heung-min stays, he is likely to be used as a rotation resource' and "There are both positive and negative aspects to catching Son Heung-min." Son Heung-min has a lot of experience and can still contribute to the team, but he has to accept that he cannot start every game like he did before." It is an interview that reflects the perspective of the club.
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Therefore, we can get a glimpse of Chairman Levi's in the business that he intends to recruit Takai, who is very popular in Japan, and use it as an icon for a new 'Asian Marketing'. It was Son Heung-min's 33rd birthday on the 8th, when Takai was officially announced to be recruited. Tottenham celebrated Son Heung-min's birthday on its official website. However, this does not mean that it should remain a symbol of an eternal team.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
