Kaoru Mitoma shone in Brighton's 3-2 victory over Liverpool during the 37th day of the Premier League, signing a reference match in an already historic season for him. The Japanese international now displays 10 goals and 3 assists in 35 games, a personal record in England. Never Shinji Kagawa ni Shinji Okazaki, however striking figures of the Premier League, had crossed the symbolic milestone of 10 goals in one season. With already 10 achievements in 2024/25, Kaoru Mitoma becomes the most prolific Japanese in the recent history of the English championship, confirming a dazzling ascent after its 7 goals in 2022/23 and only 3 the following season.
Mitoma also joins the closed circle of Japanese in shape this year in the big European championships, alongside Keito Nakamura (Reims), Shuto Machino (Holstein Kiel) and Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), all authors of at least 10 goals. “” It was our last home game and we needed a victory “Said Mitoma after the match, on the eve of his 28th birthday. “” I was aiming above. It's a minimum. »»
“” I was always aiming higher. It's a minimum. »»
With a clear progression finish, Kaoru Mitoma is establishing himself as one of the faces of Asian football in the Premier League. After a promising 2022/23 season (7 goals, 5 assists), the Japanese winger had a very complicated 2023/24 year, marked by a series of ankle injuries and then in the hip. Hard from the fields for 27 games, he could only participate in 19 games, for an assessment of only 3 goals. A season to forget, during which he lost rhythm and confidence.
But the renewal has arrived with this year. The arrival of Fabian Hürzeler on the bench in Brighton and the increased competition in attack placed Mitoma in the face of his responsibilities. The Japanese managed to respond, scoring 10 league goals, his best total in the Premier League. In a team under reconstruction, he demonstrated that there was a centerpiece, capable of making the difference in key moments. A return to the foreground which confirms its status and thus revives its trajectory on the old continent.
Brighton's winning bet
Before even signing professional, Mitoma had already drawn attention to Japan thanks to his unusual method of analysis: a university thesis devoted to dribbling. Obsessed with the spatial perception and the placement of the defender, he filmed his training with a front camera to improve his bullet decision -making. This concern for detail, combined with an instinctive sense of game, laid the foundations for its ascent. In 2020, after graduating at the University of Tsukuba, the winger joined frontal Kawasaki in the Japanese first division. Very quickly, his performances challenge Brighton, who, in the fall, multiplies the offers.
“” Brighton has sent offers on several occasions, by revising the amount each time », Says an internal source in front Kawasaki, cited by The Asahi Shimbun. “” They really had to want it. In full pandemic, while travel was limited, Brighton relies on a detailed report, based on a statistics system to assess the qualities of players. “” For Mitoma, it was green, green, green on the whole line – he received the best note, “explains David Weir, club technical director, also quoted by The Asahi Shimbun. Supervision, analysts and management then view hours of video sequences. “In the end, no one had seen him play in person », Admits Weir. A daring, but winning bet. The left winger played more than 107 games today under the colors of his English first division club, totaling 24 goals and 17 assists.
Japan en route for a new world epic
Saudi Arabia
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Already ready to pack the transfer window?
With an already historic season, Mitoma draws attention both to the field and to the transfer market, where its name begins to be among the most coveted. To attach the services of the Kawasaki native, valued around 45 million euros, it will therefore be necessary to pay a substantial sum. The Saudi club Al-Nassr recently offered 60 million euros to recruit the 27-year-old Japanese winger, under contract with his current club until 2027. At the same time, Naples would also consider an offer for the Japanese international. Other English clubs could also position themselves in this file, also closely followed by Bayern Munich. What, perhaps, hosting the transfer market this summer.
