Kaoru Mitoma January Exit: Brighton Contract Talks Stall

Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma could be set for a January exit as contract talks stall

Brighton are facing uncertainty over Kaoru Mitoma's future after contract talks stalled. The winger, under contract until June 2027, is reluctant to commit because of growing interest in him. A January sale or a free exit next summer is now in view.

Player: Kaoru Mitoma
Club: Brighton & Hove Albion
Contract: Until 30 June 2027 (four-year extension signed October 2023)
Wages: Around £80,000 a week
Status: Contract talks stalled; January exit in view
Interest: Growing, making Mitoma reluctant to commit further

What was said

"Still in talks but also focusing on the things that are very important for the club, and I think that's also the perspective from the player. He wants to give his best for Brighton because he's fully committed; you can see it in every training session, you can see it in every performance that he gives his best, so therefore that's the main focus."

— Fabian Hurzeler, speaking in March, on Mitoma's contract situation

Hurzeler's comments in March offered reassurance at the time. Since then, the landscape has changed. According to the report, meaningful progress has stalled, and Mitoma's reluctance to commit is now driven by the level of interest in him. That shift in tone is what will concern Brighton most.

Once a player reaches that point, timing becomes everything and leverage can shift quickly. Brighton would prefer a renewal, but the indications are that Mitoma's future is heading towards a decisive period, with January increasingly emerging as the moment that could define it.

Injury and availability

Kaoru Mitoma: A hamstring issue suffered in May ruled him out of the rest of the 2025-26 season and the World Cup. He is not expected back until mid-October.

Injuries have interrupted Mitoma's momentum, and this next phase is especially important. Brighton will hope fitness leads to form, and form reopens the door to fresh dialogue.

Deal details

Contract: Mitoma signed a four-year extension in October 2023, tying him to Brighton until 30 June 2027.
Wages: Around £80,000 a week, reflecting both importance and expectation.
Negotiation stage: Contract talks have stalled. Meaningful progress has not been made, and Mitoma is reluctant to commit further because of the level of interest in him.
Potential outcomes: A reduced-fee sale in January, when Mitoma would be within six months of freedom, or a free departure next summer. The report frames an emotional parting of ways as a genuine possibility.
Precedent: Jan-Paul van Hecke was sold to Tottenham Hotspur with just a year left on his deal, yet a significant fee was still secured. That may shape Brighton's thinking again if no breakthrough is reached.
Additional interest: The same report states that Liverpool continue to track Yankuba Minteh, adding to the sense that Brighton could soon be forced into major attacking adjustments.

Why Mitoma holds the cards at Brighton

Kaoru Mitoma remains one of Brighton's most watchable attacking players. Since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale in 2021, he has brought dribbling quality, acceleration and a calmness in one-v-one situations that few wide players in the division can match. He has often given Brighton a different rhythm in attack, carrying the ball into dangerous territory and forcing defences backwards.

That is why contract talks matter so much. If Mitoma does not sign a new deal, Brighton face a choice: sell at a reduced fee in January, or risk losing him for nothing next summer. Fabian Hurzeler will want clarity as soon as possible so he can plan his attack. The return of a fit Mitoma would also strengthen Brighton's hand, both on the pitch and at the negotiating table.

The wider concern is what happens if both Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh situations remain live. Liverpool continue to track Minteh, and if Brighton's left and right sides come under threat at the same time, the club's recruitment team may need to move from monitoring to planning far sooner than intended. That would create real uncertainty around Hurzeler's plans and what sort of team supporters will be watching in six months.

Talking points

Should Brighton sell Mitoma in January at a reduced fee rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer?
If Liverpool step up their interest in Yankuba Minteh, can Brighton afford to lose both wide players in the same window?
Mitoma's wages of around £80,000 a week reflect his importance, but is that enough to convince him to stay?
Does the Jan-Paul van Hecke precedent prove Brighton can still secure a significant fee, or is Mitoma a different case?

What happens next

Mitoma is not expected back from his hamstring injury until mid-October. Brighton will hope his return brings form and reopens contract talks. If no breakthrough is reached, January becomes the decisive window, when Brighton must weigh a reduced-fee sale against the risk of losing him for free next summer.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kaoru Mitoma leaving Brighton in January?

A January exit is now firmly in view because contract talks have stalled and Mitoma is reluctant to commit further. Brighton could also face losing him for nothing next summer.

What is Kaoru Mitoma's contract situation at Brighton?

Mitoma remains under contract until 30 June 2027, after signing a four-year extension in October 2023. He earns around £80,000 a week.

When will Kaoru Mitoma return from injury?

Mitoma is not expected back until mid-October after a hamstring issue suffered in May ruled him out of the rest of the 2025-26 season and the World Cup.