Kaoru Mitoma is not your normal Premier League footballer – and it is why mere money will not be enough for any potential suitors to secure his transfer from Brighton this summer. Even as he enters the final 12 months of his Albion contract.
After Mitoma scored the winning goal for Japan against England at Wembley, there seemed to be an uptick in interest in him.
Most notably from one Spurs fan on social media, who went viral for suggesting Tottenham should take Mitoma this summer. The same Tottenham who are currently 17th in the Premier League. One point above the relegation zone.
The argument Spurs supporters put forward is that Tottenham are a bigger club than Brighton. And if that is not enough of a pull for Mitoma, then cold, hard cash will tempt him to North London. Even for potential matches in the Championship next season against Lincoln City and Stevenage.
This though displays a stunning mix of arrogance and ignorance. Arrogance over how big an appeal Spurs actually hold after having more bottom six Premier League finishes in the past 20 years than major trophies.
Ignorance over the sort of person Mitoma is and what he wants from his football career. Which does certainly not involve away games at the LNER or Lamex Stadiums in 2026-27.
Mitoma turned down transfer from Brighton to Saudi Pro League
If money were a motivating factor for Mitoma, he would have made a transfer from Brighton to the Saudi Pro League in January 2025.
Al-Nassr were prepared to pay the Albion up to £90 million for Mitoma. Had such an astronomical offer come in, Brighton would have found it hard to turn down.
Thankfully, the decision was taken out of their hands. Mitoma had no interest in moving. Even for a league with the riches to pay Cristiano Ronaldo a cool £173 million per year or Jordan Henderson £350,000 a week.
Mitoma has always wanted the best for his career over cold, hard cash. It is why he turned down the first professional contract he was offered to instead go to university, where he wrote that famous thesis on dribbling.
Back in his student days, Mitoma apparently wrote down his career goals. Playing Champions League football was the holy grail over becoming a multimillionaire.
Getting rich in a country where executing 81 men in a single day or assassinating a journalist critical of the government before cutting him into tiny pieces to sneak out of an embassy does not get you Champions League football.
Neither does Mitoma making a transfer from Brighton to Spurs.
Mitoma and his Brighton contract situation
None of that is to stay Mitoma will remain at Brighton beyond this summer. He is out of contract in 2027 and the Albion were said to have opened talks with him over a new deal immediately after he rejected Al-Nasr. 18 months later with little progress seemingly made must be seen as a concern.
Fabian Hurzeler was asked recently about the future of both Mitoma and Jan Paul Hecke, whose current deal also expires in summer 2027. The response was hardly encouraging.
“In football, like we all know, it is definitely everything possible,” said Hurzeler. “I think both know that I really enjoy working with them.”
“They are both very important players for this club. We don’t have to hide this opinion. We should be quite honest about this.”
“But in the end, you can only impact certain things. There are always two sides – the club side, the player side. I think they all know what they have playing for Brighton.”
“They all know that Brighton gave them the opportunity to develop. An opportunity to play on the highest level in the best league in the world. Therefore, let’s see what happens.”
Kaoru Mitoma transfer rumours
If no new contract is agreed, Mitoma can talk to clubs outside England about a free transfer next January. He could then join another Premier League club for nothing in summer 2027.
As much as Mitoma deserves total admiration for not taking the Saudi money, I wonder if there is some regret amongst decision-makers over not landing £90 million for Mitoma. Especially if he does end up going for nothing in a little over 12 months time.
Where then could Mitoma end up? Not Spurs, obviously. In terms of Premier League options, Manchester United were linked in January and Arsenal this time last year.
The Gunners will certainly be able to offer the Champions League football Mitoma craves. Barring a spectacular collapse, United should also secure a top five finish this season.
Not that everyone is convinced Mitoma will attract interest from one of the Premier League Big Six given his age and injury problems of the past few seasons.
Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith told BestBettingSites in a recent interview: “I don’t see his level being really beyond Brighton. He is 28 with a bit of an injury record.”
“He did well against England when scoring for Japan, of course. So that might help his cause. And he is a good player. There is no question about that.”
“But I don’t see kind of a top-five club looking at him. And then again, the age thing works against him really.”
Harsh words. But if Smith is right, Brighton is Mitoma’s level and there ends up being no interest from Champions League clubs, it is not beyond the realms of possibility he signs a new Albion contract.
Mitoma certainly seems more likely to extend his stay at the Amex than Van Hecke.
The Mitoma Bayern Munich talk which won’t go away
What about clubs outside England then? The one Kaoru Mitoma rumour which refuses to go away is a transfer from Brighton to Bayern Munich.
According to reports in Bavaria, Bayern have watched Mitoma countless times. They even met with his representatives at the end of last season to say how the land lay over a potential move.
Munich in may respects represents the perfect destination for Mitoma. Not only do Bayern offer Champions League football, but the chance to win trophies.
The Bundesliga is less physical than the Premier League. Mitoma should avoid the sort of rough treatment and contact injuries a player with his talents is at danger of in England, potentially extending his career.
And it would mean Brighton not selling one of their best players to strengthen an English rival at a time when the Albion hope to become European regulars themselves.
Should Mitoma leave Brighton this summer and wherever he ends up, he will depart with the best wishes of Seagulls fans. He has been a joy to watch and shown rarely-seen-loyalty for a 21st century footballer in turning down all that Saudi sportswashing money.
Mitoma deserves to play the Champions League football he made his career aim all those years ago back in Japan.
And he isn’t getting that Spurs.
About The Author
WeAreBrighton.com have been covering the Albion since the start of the 2009-10 season, back when the Seagulls were a struggling League One outfit playing in front of less than 8,000 fans every week at Withdean Stadium.
It has grown into the most popular fan-run Albion news site with multiple nominations at the Football Content Awards. WAB is also the leading unofficial Brighton social media channel with over 125,000 followers across various platforms.