Mitoma’s Contract Renewal Talks with Brighton Reportedly Stalled, Player Could Move to Champions League Club in Winter Window

According to Japanese media reports, sources have revealed that Kaoru Mitoma, the Japan national team midfielder currently playing for English club Brighton, could move to a new club during the January 2027 transfer window.

According to British football news website TeamTalk, the reason for Mitoma’s potential January transfer is that renewal talks between the Japan international midfielder and the club have reached an impasse, with his contract set to expire on June 30, 2027.

In October 2023, Mitoma signed a four-year contract extension with Brighton, earning a weekly salary of £80,000 (approximately 16.96 million yen) and an annual salary of £4.16 million (approximately 894.4 million yen), making him one of the highest-paid players at the club. However, the contract will expire at the end of this season, and the club has already started negotiations over an extension. Mitoma’s response, however, was reportedly a refusal.

In view of this, Team Talk reported that the club could sell Mitoma before he becomes a free agent next summer. It is widely known that the Japan international midfielder hopes to join a team that has already secured Champions League qualification. Over the next three and a half months, if a club that meets Mitoma’s requirements needs a left winger, it is highly likely that they will turn their attention to Brighton’s Mitoma.