logo
Tottenham sign Japan defender Takai from Kawasaki Frontale

Tottenham sign Japan defender Takai from Kawasaki Frontale

CNA13 hours ago
Tottenham Hotspur have signed Japan defender Kota Takai on a five-year contract from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
Financial details were not disclosed but British media reports said Europa League champions Tottenham paid a fee of five million pounds ($6.82 million) for the 20-year-old.
Takai, a product of Frontale's youth academy, was part of the side that missed out on the Asian Champions League Elite title after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli in the final in May.
He has also made four appearances for Japan's national team.
Takai is the third centre back to join the north London club this summer, further bolstering their defence after the arrivals of Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split and Kevin Danso, whose loan move from RC Lens was made permanent.
Tottenham ended their 17-year trophy drought with their Europa League victory last season, but also endured their worst domestic campaign for nearly half a century and finished 17th in the Premier League.
($1 = 0.7336 pounds)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Joao Pedro double sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final
Joao Pedro double sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Straits Times

time16 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Joao Pedro double sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - Joao Pedro marked his first Chelsea start in spectacular fashion on July 8, scoring twice to fire the Premier League side into the Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over his boyhood club Fluminense. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £60 million (S$100 million) last week, curled home a fabulous strike in the 18th minute before sealing the win with a brilliant finish following a counter-attack early in the second half. Chelsea will face Real Madrid or Paris St Germain, who meet in the second semi-final on July 9, in the July 13 final. The semi-final took place in brutal conditions in New Jersey, with an afternoon kickoff in scorching heat that prompted a National Weather Service warning. Temperatures soared past 35 deg C with over 54 per cent humidity. Chelsea started the game in control against a Fluminense side who adopted a conservative approach, with a deep five-men defence, inviting their rivals to hold possession and trying to counter attack. The English side struggled to find their way through against Fluminense's defensive block but they broke the deadlock in the 18th minute thanks to Joao Pedro's shot from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net. The Brazilian refused to celebrate his goal, a gesture of respect for Fluminense, where he came through the academy before making his professional debut as a 17-year-old. His journey took him to Watford in 2019 and Brighton in 2023 before joining Chelsea. Fluminense, who stunned Champions League runners-up Inter Milan in the last 16 and Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals, nearly equalised when Hercules burst unmarked into the box following a slick one-two with German Cano, only for Marc Cucurella's goalline clearance to preserve Chelsea's lead. The Brazilian side thought they had earned a lifeline when referee Francois Letexier awarded a penalty for Trevoh Chalobah's handball, but VAR overturned the decision. Just as Fluminense appeared to be building momentum in the second half, Pedro delivered the knockout blow in the 56th minute, bursting up the left channel and taking a fine pass by Enzo Fernandez before dribbling past Ignacio and smashing in an unstoppable shot off the underside of the crossbar. REUTERS

VAR needs to make quicker decisions, says Germany coach Wueck
VAR needs to make quicker decisions, says Germany coach Wueck

CNA

time2 hours ago

  • CNA

VAR needs to make quicker decisions, says Germany coach Wueck

BASEL, Switzerland :Two lengthy video reviews halted the momentum of Germany's 2-1 victory over Denmark on Tuesday at Euro 2025 and had German fans at St Jakob-Park whistling and jeering the officials over the delays. There were long stoppages for both first-half VAR decisions against Germany, with seven minutes of time added on before the halftime break. Germany had celebrated what they thought was the opening goal by Klara Buehl and players from both teams were lined up to restart the game when the goal was disallowed after VAR determined it was offside after three minutes of deliberation. The Germans were also awarded a first-half penalty by the referee due to a Denmark handball but the decision was overturned after another lengthy VAR review. Germany were awarded another penalty in the 56th minute for a tackle in the box, but it took almost two-and-a-half minutes for the referee to point to the spot. Sjoeke Nuesken slotted her spot-kick into the bottom corner for Germany's first goal of the game. "I don't know if the decisions were right or wrong, but the system, football has to think about how they can speed that up," Germany coach Christian Wueck said. "The goal wasn't allowed, and then the penalty wasn't given. We have to take steps to make those decisions faster." During Sweden's win over Denmark in the tournament, there was a review lasting over four minutes to decide whether Denmark should be awarded a penalty. Following the review, Sweden were awarded a free kick. VAR was first introduced into women's football at Euro 2022.

Relationships under strain as Dutch take on England
Relationships under strain as Dutch take on England

CNA

time4 hours ago

  • CNA

Relationships under strain as Dutch take on England

ZURICH :Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema goes up against her English partner Beth Mead on Wednesday when the two countries meet in a key clash at the Women's European Championship in Zurich, but it is not a subject they are talking about. Miedema, who scored her 100th goal for the Dutch when they comfortably beat Wales 3-0 in their opening Group D match in Lucerne on Saturday, played with forward Mead at Arsenal for seven years but moved to Manchester City last year. They have been dating since 2022, according to their social media posts, and after being clubmates, were on opposite sides this season following Miedema's move to Manchester. 'We have a rule that we can talk about anything but not about the match," Miedema told a pre-game press conference. "I don't know if she's going to start the game, I don't know if she'll come on later. The only thing I know is that we both feel good. Nothing more. Tomorrow we won't be friends on the pitch for a while. "I'm there as a Dutch person and I'll do everything to win that match. If that's not good for Beth, then I'm happy. It's part of the game. I've often been on the other side, but I'm happy if we can progress tomorrow. 'I don't have a good record against her, but hopefully we can change that,' she added, 'but we haven't played much against each other at both club and national team level.' A win for the Netherlands would likely condemn the defending champions to early elimination, after England lost their opener to France at the weekend. 'If we beat England and Beth has to go home, then she won't speak to me for a while,' Miedema said laughing. 'But that's part of football too.' Miedema has extensive knowledge of the English game after her time in the Women's Super League. She spontaneously answered a Dutch question in English at the press conference, betraying her longevity in Britain. "We know all those girls individually very well," she added of the England side. "But I think it's also the other way around, that the staff of England know us well too." England have Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman in charge, and she was formerly Netherlands coach. "We are friends, and you want the best for your friends,' her Dutch counterpart Andries Jonker said on Tuesday. "But we also have an understanding that if we play against each other, we also want to beat each other. I'm sorry for Sarina, but it's football," he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store