Kaoru Mitoma was on the crest of a wave when Brighton & Hove Albion reached Europe for the first time in 2023.
But the Japan winger’s preparations for the club’s second European adventure in the upcoming season are contrastingly turbulent, with his involvement in a car accident in his homeland arising during his recovery from a hamstring surgery which ruled him out of the World Cup.
The accident in Tokyo on Wednesday morning — in which a 48-year-old cyclist suffered minor injuries after she was struck by a car driven by Mitoma — coincided with Brighton team-mates reporting back to the club’s training headquarters in Lancing for pre-season training as they gear up for the 2026-27 campaign under Fabian Hurzeler, which includes competing in the Europa Conference League.
There is no clear indication of the timescale of Mitoma’s return to the UK or when he will be available to play. The accident happened in the vicinity of the national training centre in Tokyo as Mitoma drove there to continue his rehabilitation.
Mitoma’s management company said in a statement confirming the accident: “We sincerely and deeply apologise for the considerable trouble and concern caused to the injured party and all those concerned.
