What makes Kota Takai ideal for Tottenham and Thomas Frank despite transfer obstacle

Kota Takai will need time to settle at Tottenham Hotspur as he gets to grip with the game and the language but he has the composure and potential to become a star, a Japanese football expert has told football.london.

Spurs are attempting to complete a £5million deal for the 20-year-old Japan international to arrive from J.League side Kawasaki Frontale next month. The 6ft 3ins defender has played 78 times already for Kawasaki, with 57 of those games coming in the J.League and he played a big role in his club winning the Japanese Super Cup last year and was duly named the J.League's Young Player of the Year.

Takaihas also got plenty of experience in the AFC Champions League as an integral part of the Kawasaki side that reached the final last month. He made his Japan senior debut just after his 20th birthday and has appeared in four World Cup qualifiers so far. It would have been more but for an adductor injury suffered in October last year and it's worth noting that many in the Japan squad ply their trade in European football.

We asked freelance football editor and former Goal.com Japan chief editor and DAZN news Japan chief editor Tasuku Okawa a range of questions about Takai and he gave us plenty of insight into the player Spurs will get when they wrap up the move for the young centre-back.

Here's what he had to tell us about the defender and how he will fit into Thomas Frank's squad.

What has been the reaction in Japan to Takai's imminent move to Tottenham?

As the transfer has not been officially announced yet, it remains at the level of a 'strong rumour', but everyone assumes it is a done deal. There is a high level of anticipation among football fans, and excitement.

On the other hand, because Takai is still young and hasn’t had much experience with the national team, his name is not yet widely recognised by the general public — especially those who don’t closely follow football. So it’s not making huge headlines or causing a major stir at this point.

Media coverage has also been relatively limited so far. However, once the move is officially confirmed, we expect a significant increase in exposure. One point that has been positively received, even at this early stage, is the reported transfer fee around 1 billion yen (approx. £5 million), which would be the highest in J.League history. The fact that Tottenham are willing to pay a record-breaking fee has been viewed favourably, especially from the perspective of the Japanese club benefiting financially.

Have Takai or his manager spoken about the reports?

No, nothing concrete has been made public yet. In fact, Takai himself has been evasive when asked. Everything will likely be revealed once an official announcement is made.

How would you describe him as a player? What are his strengths and weaknesses?

His strengths are that he is tall and dominant in the air. He notably matched up well against Cristiano Ronaldo in the recent AFC Champions League match and held his own. However, most of the reputation in the air largely comes from his play in J.League where the players are generally smaller, so we will need to see how he can adapt in Premier League.

He has good pace and strong defensive awareness and is technically solid on the ball. He’s capable of carrying the ball forward and delivering line-breaking passes. He has grown through the Kawasaki youth team, as did Kaoru Mitoma, which is famous for technique.

Takai's weaknesses are that he is still young and needs more experience to refine his defensive moves, including the strengths I mentioned above. When it comes to language, his English is limited, so how quickly he can grasp tactical instructions is uncertain.

Personality-wise, he’s calm and perhaps a bit unconventional. He might need time to adjust to a very different environment. He’s not very talkative and doesn’t speak to the media much. He has a laid-back demeanour, which could make integrating into a new team a bit of a challenge — though with a young Spurs squad including players like Archie Gray and Lukas Bergvall, there may be a smoother path for connection.

Is he comfortable on the left in a centre-back pairing, and can he also play as a right-back?

Although he's right-footed, he has played on the left side of a centre-back pairing when partnered with Jesiel [at Kawasaki] and has said he doesn’t see it as a problem.

He has also been used as a full-back for the Japan under-20s. Thanks to his speed, he could be a decent option there if needed. He also covers a lot of ground even as a centre-back, and he has shown he can handle playing in a back three — as he has done for the senior national team.

What's the view on him as an international player for Japan?

He’s seen as a potential future starter of the national team. With Takehiro Tomiyasu often side-lined due to injuries, there’s hope that Takai can step into a more central and reliable role.

How long do you think he will need to adapt to the Premier League?

Honestly, it's hard to say. The J.League and Premier League are entirely different, especially when it comes to the physical demands. The Premier League is arguably the toughest in the world in that respect.

Typically, Japanese players step up gradually, moving through leagues like the Eredivisie, Belgian Pro League, Bundesliga, or Scottish Premiership, Championship — before reaching the Premier League. Takai would likely perform well immediately in those stepping-stone leagues, but Premier League might require a longer adaptation period. He may begin as a backup option at Spurs.

Even Tomiyasu, who was a standout centre-back in Japan, has often been used at full-back in the Premier League, and the same could happen with Takai depending on team needs.

Takai has played AFC Champions League matches but may now face Champions League competition. How will he handle the step up?

There's a huge gap in quality between the AFC Champions League and the UEFA Champions League, so it’s difficult to predict how he will adapt. That said, Takai has a calm, almost nonchalant personality. He doesn't get overly tense or emotional, which might actually help him on the mental side. He gives off the impression of someone who won't be overwhelmed by the big stage and could handle it with composure.

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