Kōta Takai

Kōta Takai (高井 幸大, Takai Kōta; born 4 September 2004) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Tottenham Hotspur and the Japan national team.

Kōta Takai
高井 幸大

Personal information
Full name	Kōta Takai[1]
Date of birth	(2004-09-04) 4 September 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth	Yokohama, Japan
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Tottenham Hotspur
Youth career
2009–2011	River FC
2011–2022	Kawasaki Frontale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2025	Kawasaki Frontale	60	(4)
2025–	Tottenham Hotspur	0	(0)
International career‡
2019	Japan U15	1	(0)
2022–2023	Japan U20	1	(0)
2023–2024	Japan U23	7	(1)
2024–	Japan	4	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Japan AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024 Qatar Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 July 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 June 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Takai was promoted to the Kawasaki Frontale first team ahead of the 2022 season.^[2] He made his debut in a 8–0 victory against Guangzhou.^[3]

On 8 July 2025, Takai agreed to join Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent transfer until 2030.^[4]

International career

On 4 April 2024, Takai was called up to the Japan U23 squad for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.^[5] The same year on 5 September, Takai debuted for Japan national team in a 2026 World Cup qualification against China at the Saitama Stadium 2002, replacing Ko Itakura in the 71st minute of Japan's 7–0 victory.^[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 July 2025^[7]

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kawasaki Frontale	2022	J1 League	0	0	—		—		1[c]	0	—		1	0
	2023		14	0	4	0	3	0	2[c]	0	—		23	0
	2024		24	2	0	0	0	0	4[c]	0	1[d]	0	29	2
	2025		22	2	0	0	0	0	6[c]	0	—		28	2
	Total		60	4	4	0	3	0	13	0	1	0	81	4
Tottenham Hotspur	2025–26	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			60	4	4	0	3	0	13	0	1	0	81	4

1. Includes Emperor's Cup
2. Includes J.League Cup
3. Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League Elite
4. Appearance in Japanese Super Cup

International

As of match played 10 June 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan	2024	1	0
	2025	3	0
Total		4	0

Honours

Club

Kawasaki Frontale

• Japanese Super Cup: 2024^[8]
• Emperor's Cup: 2023^[9]

International

Japan U23

• AFC U-23 Asian Cup: 2024

Individual

• J.League Best Young Player: 2024^[10]