Despite being signed by Brighton & Hove Albion on a move from Kawasaki Frontale in 2021, Kaoru Mitoma didn’t have the chance to make his debut for the Seagulls in his first year at the club.
That’s because he got loaned to Belgian side Union SG, where he had his adaptation to European football.
Now after returning to Brighton last summer, Mitoma has been showing he’s up for the challenge, as he already has seven goals and two assists in 22 appearances for the Seagulls this season.
While doing that, he also became an important player for the Japanese national team, and is now regularly featuring in their games, including in the World Cup.
So as the Belgian media featured an interview with Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, they had a couple of questions about Mitoma, and it turns out that the forward has been drawing big attention for what he’s been showing at Brighton.
“He’s been a great influence on Brighton. He’s in great form scoring goals which help his club get results. Since the World Cup he’s got a lot more self-confidence and showing fantastic things,” Kawashima told Walfoot.
Kawashima also showed big belief in what Mitoma can do for the national team, claiming the Brighton player can become a ‘legend’ for his country in the future.
“Yes, I think so! Today, Japan have players who, thanks to the exploits in the World Cup, can guide the country for a long time. This generation has entered a new dimension and I am looking forward to see Japanese football go to the next level.”
