Kaoru Mitoma has signed a new long-term contract at Brighton & Hove Albion that runs until June 2027. The Japanese player is one of the Premier League’s hottest properties and is likely to attract bigger clubs in Europe at the end of this season after a successful first campaign in the English top flight last season.
Men’s first-team head coach Roberto De Zerbi said, “It’s great news. Kaoru is our top player.”
Technical director David Weir added, “Ensuring that a player of Kaoru’s quality will remain with us for the long term is fantastic news.
“Kaoru adapted to the Premier League last season and has quickly become one of our most important players.
“His success is also a reflection of the work of the departments that have played a role in his recruitment, helped
him gain important experience on loan and ultimately become a big part of Roberto’s first team group.
“I have no doubt that our supporters will be delighted with the news.”
Kaoru signed for us in 2021, and spent the 2021/22 season on loan with Royal Union Saint-Gilloise. In Belgium, he made 29 appearances in all competitions, being credited with eight goals and four assists.
Kaoru quickly established himself as a key player for Albion the following campaign, with a series of exciting displays and he scored his first goal in a 3-2 win at Wolves in November 2022.
He holds the record for most Premier League goals scored in a season by a Japanese player, finishing the 2022/23 campaign with seven goals, one more than the previous record held by Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa.
We can’t wait for more of this 🪄@kaoru_mitoma x @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/OBKHUrtE05
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 20, 2023
Since his debut in August 2022, he’s contributed 13 goals and 12 assists, from 52 appearances in an Albion shirt.
His form saw him named as Most Valuable Player 2022 by the Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA), while he also won the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award for August 2023.
