AS references go, keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet is not a bad one.
That is exactly what Kota Takai, the exciting Japanese centre-back set to be Tottenham’s second signing of the Thomas Frank era, managed in April.
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Towering defender Takai was lining up for J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the semi-final of the AFC Champions League elite.
It is Asia’s version of the Champions League and the most prestigious competition in that part of the world.
Having seen off Didier Drogba’s old Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua in the last 16 and Qatari side Al-Sadd, via extra-time, in the quarters, it was Al Nassr’s formidable front three of Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran up next in the last four.
But 20-year-old Takai handled the task well, with only Mane of the trio netting as Kawasaki came through 3-2 in Jeddah.
It was not how the script was supposed to go.
This was meant to be the triumphant pay-off from Al-Nassr’s massive expenditure in recent years and their first final appearance in 30 years.
But instead it was Takai and Co who went through to the showpiece three days later, with Ronaldo looking visibly shocked at full-time having missed a late chance.
Kawasaki went on to lose the final three days later to Ivan Toney’s Al-Ahli, Saudi Pro League rivals to Al-Nassr.
Yet Takai’s exploits had been enough to capture the attention of Spurs technical director Johan Lange and his staff.
Standing at 6ft 4ins tall, the aggressive young centre-back who can play on the right or left side in the middle of defence is due to join Spurs next month.
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A £5million fee has been agreed with Kawasaki which is a record fee for a Japanese player from the J-League.
Most Spurs fans will understandably never have heard of Takai, but the expectation at this point is that he is coming to be part of the first-team squad this term rather than be loaned out.
Frank and his coaching staff will, of course, assess him over the summer and make a final judgment call on that.
Spurs are stacked at centre-back, after all – with six already at the club and Croatian teen sensation Luka Vuskovic joining this summer too – even though there is Champions League football to come this term.
But Takai’s relative experience at such a tender age has given Spurs confidence he can be involved from the off.
The Yokohama-born defender already has four appearances for Japan, all coming in World Cup qualifiers, and has 78 senior matches under his belt already.
Takai, who turns 21 in September, was pivotal to Kawasaki clinching the Japanese Super Cup last year and was named the league’s Young Player of the Year.
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Those feats have convinced the Spurs hierarchy that Takai can join the club’s burgeoning group of young talent that includes Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and the first signing of the summer, Mathys Tel.
Takai’s favoured shirt number is said to be No2 which Spurs have had available ever since Irish full-back Matt Doherty left the club two years ago.
If and when the youngster makes his Premier League bow, he will become the 16th Japanese player to do so, following in the footsteps of Kaoru Mitoma, Shinji Kagawa and Junichi Inamoto.
His capture continues Spurs’ recruitment from the Far East of late, following last year’s signing of South Korean starlet Yang Min-Hyeok, who went on loan to QPR in the second half of the season.
Of course, Spurs have had the most famous Asian player in recent times starring for them over the last decade in Son Heung-min, though he could leave the club this summer.
If Takai can have even a fifth of the impact skipper Son has had at Spurs, then the North Londoners will consider him one hell of a bargain.
Takai’s career so far
Here is a look at Kato Takai’s career so far…
Youth career
- River FC, 2009–2011
- Kawasaki Frontale, 2011-2022
Senior career
- Kawasaki Frontale, 2022-2025
Stats
- Appearances – 78
- Goals – 4
- Assists – 1
- Yellow cards – 12
- Red cards – 0
International career
