Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the signing of Japanese international Kaoru Mitoma. The 24-year-old winger has signed a four-year contract at the premier league club and joins from J1 League team Kawasaki Frontale. He departs Kawasaki having made 64 appearances, scoring 30 times in all competitions.
Brighton Sign Japanese Star Kauro Mitoma
Albion are pleased to confirm the signing of Japan international Kaoru Mitoma! 🇯🇵
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 10, 2021
The Winger Joins on a Four-Year Deal
Kauro Mitoma, 24, played for Japan in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and is now enjoying a break. Japan narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing 3-1 to Mexico in the third-place-play-off. However, Mitoma scored as a second-half substitute. Mitoma is performed well at club level too, scoring 13 goals as Frontale lifted the J1 League title. The winger also made the league’s best 11 for the campaign. Although signing for Brighton, Mitoma is joining Royal Union Saint-Gilloise on loan for the 2021-22 season.
Speaking on the club website Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth discussed the transfer: “We’re delighted to be able to sign Kaoru, who arrives off the back of a couple of really strong seasons in Japan,”
“Brighton have been scouting Kaoru Mitoma thoroughly however the club wishes to test Mitomu’s development with a loan deal. As part of his development we have decided to loan him to Union Saint-Gilloise, to help him become accustomed to European football and test himself in a different environment.”
Kaoru Mitoma is Raring to Go
A natural goal scorer, Mitoma is just what Brighton need. His dribbling ability coupled with an eye for goal means that, if he continues his development, Brighton may have a diamond in the rough. Kaoru Mitoma has said it is a dream come true to sign for Albion. In an interview on the club’s website, Mitoma said: “All football fans in Japan are aware of the Premier League and how high the level is, they recognise that it’s the best league in the world, and there are a lot of star players.”
Mitoma cited Shinji Kagawa as inspiration for his success and hopes to match his ambition in the Premier League. “The quality of play is obviously very high, which Japanese football fans are particularly aware of. Shinji Kagawa being a part of Manchester United was a big thing in Japan. I hope to have as much success as my fellow Japanese predecessors in the Premier League or other European leagues.”
But before we see him in the Premier League, Mitoma must impress in Belgium. Many Brighton fans will be closely watching their rough diamond as he embarks on his debut season in Europe.
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