Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma has signed a new deal with Brighton that will keep him there until the summer of 2027, the English Premier League club announced Friday.
Mitoma joined the Seagulls from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale in the summer of 2021. Following a successful one-year loan spell at Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the 26-year-old quickly established himself as one of the best attackers in the Premier League.
"It's great news. Kaoru is our top player." Italian manager Roberto de Zerbi said of Mitoma, who has been linked with a host of big clubs, including league champions Manchester City, over the past months.
Technical director David Weir added, "Ensuring that a player of Kaoru's quality will remain with us for the long term is fantastic news."
Mitoma has registered 13 goals and 12 assists in 52 games since making his Brighton debut in August 2022.
His seven goals in his first Premier League season last term were the most scored in a single season by a Japanese, one more than former Manchester United attacker Shinji Kagawa and Leicester forward Shinji Okazaki.
