Tottenham interested in €15m Japanese international defender | OneFootball

Het Nieuwsblad are reporting that Tottenham are showing interest in Union St Gilloise defender Koki Machida. The left-footed central defender is under contract at the Belgian Pro League leaders until 2026, with the club looking to get at least €15m for him. The 26-year-old only made seven starts during the 2022/2023 season, but so far this year he has started 12 league games and four Europa League games. He also earned his first Japanese national team call up in March and has made five caps so far.

Machida began his career with Kashima Antlers, where he spent six seasons, playing 113 games and scoring eight goals. In January 2022 he joined Union on loan, with the side making the move permanent in June of 2023. With Machida at the back, the side have conceded just 16 goals in 15 games so far this season. He has formed a partnership with the other two who make up Union’s back three, former Portsmouth fan favourite Christian Burgess and Argentinian defender Kevin Mac Allister.

Union are top of the Belgian Pro league and have not lost a league game since the 16th of September.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson