Kota Takai was given a huge boost on Tuesday morning as Tottenham Hotspur gear up to play their first pre-season friendly under Thomas Frank.
Several Tottenham Hotspur players have already begun work under the new head coach, Thomas Frank, ahead of the club’s friendly against Reading this weekend, marking the start of what is a transitional summer for Spurs.
The first batch of 19 players reported for training on 6 July, with a further 12 joining four days later, as preparations intensified ahead of the 2025/26 campaign under Frank and his coaching staff.
However, one notable absentee from the training pitches had been new signing Kota Takai, who has been in north London since 8 July but was forced to wait on his work permit before getting involved.
Kota Takai receives clearance to train with Tottenham
According to Football.London, the £5 million Japan international, who joined Tottenham from Kawasaki Frontale earlier this month, is now eligible to begin full training.
It is understood that the 20-year-old centre-back received his work permit on Tuesday morning, 15 July, which now allows him to begin work as a Spurs player under Thomas Frank.
Takai, having made the move from Japan, needed to await approval under post-Brexit regulations before being cleared to participate in first-team training at Hotspur Way.
Spurs debut on the cards for Takai against Reading
With the Japan international now part of Tottenham’s pre-season preparations, there is a belief that he could be one of three players in line to make their debut against Reading on Saturday.
Tottenham are set to play their first game under Thomas Frank at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and summer arrivals Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus and Luka Vuskovic are all expected to be involved.
Frank is also scheduled to speak to the media on Friday, where he will likely be quizzed on his new signings and the ongoing transfer saga involving Morgan Gibbs-White.
Takai comes into Spurs as a very promising prospect, with pundits and analysts giving him his flowers, following his impressive spell in the J League.
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