Kaoru Mitoma reflects on 2024/25 season

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Kaoru finished the season with ten Premier League goals to his name.

Charlie Hanson

2025-06-13T06:00+01:00

Kaoru Mitoma has made 88 Premier League appearances for Albion, scoring 20 goals. 📷 by James Boardman.

Kaoru Mitoma has looked back on a season in which he netted ten Premier League goals for the first time in his career and and became the top-scoring Japanese player of all time in England's top-flight.

How do you reflect on the season from a personal perspective?

I felt my condition improved gradually. There were tough periods with the national team schedule too, and I faced a lot of challenges. But I want to use those lessons and apply them next season.

You scored ten goals in a Premier League season for the first time. How do you feel about that?

Not bad, but I believe I can push those numbers higher. At the end of the day, not qualifying for Europe says it all.

What do you think saw us fall just short of qualifying for Europe?

Definitely game management. We turned too many winnable matches into draws. That was frustrating, but we also had games where we came from behind and made them ours. A lot of 'what ifs' this season, really.

You’ve had a new manager this season. In what way did you improve under him and generally this campaign?

I definitely made more attacking runs into the box than last season. The team’s tactics changed, but I also improved in timing and physicality. That said, there were chances I should’ve finished, and I also made mistakes in defence that led to goals. There’s still a lot to work on.

How have you found working with Fabian Hurzeler?

Fabian Hurzeler and Kaoru Mitoma after the win at Ipswich Town. 📷 by James Boardman.

He really emphasized collective defending, especially from the front line. That was a big focus from the beginning, and he judged players based on how well they executed that. Of course, results matter, but he valued how much we contributed as a team.

You’ve played for three years in the Premier League with Albion. What’s been your main takeaway during your time here so far?

The level across the league is extremely high. I feel I’ve grown compared to my first season, but in football, everything can change in one season – or even one match. That’s something I feel even more strongly now.