Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Lens defender Kevin Danso on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
The Austria international becomes Ange Postecoglou's first outfield acquisition of the January transfer window and just Spurs' second arrival of the month after Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Tottenham have welcomed Danso to North London after pulling off an incredible late transfer hijack, as the one-time Reading, MK Dons and Southampton man was initially poised to join Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Danso's camp had reportedly reached a full agreement with Wolves, and the defender was set to undergo a medical with the West Midlands side on Sunday, but it was cancelled once the centre-back learned of Spurs' interest.
The Lilywhites moved rapidly to strike a deal with Lens, who are expected to receive €25m (£20.9m) for the Austria international when his permanent obligation is triggered at the end of the season.
Danso will wear the number four shirt at Tottenham, which was last sported by Oliver Skipp and has also been donned by Glenn Hoddle, Toby Alderweireld and Cristian Romero down the years.
When could Danso make his Tottenham debut?
Introducing Kevin Danso. pic.twitter.com/P7hl5Dejlj
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 2, 2025
Tottenham's signing of Danso comes just a few hours before Postecoglou's men face Brentford in Sunday's Premier League contest, and that London derby will of course come too soon for the 26-year-old.
However, Danso might be able to make his Lilywhites debut against Liverpool in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Thursday evening - where Spurs have a 1-0 lead to protect - if he has received his work permit in time.
The Austria international leaves Lens after a successful three-and-a-half year spell with the Ligue 1 outfit, during which he made 128 appearances across all tournaments and registered four goals and six assists.
Danso was a fundamental cog in Franck Haise's back three as Lens finished just one point behind champions Paris Saint-Germain in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season, where he was named in the Team of the Year after helping Les Sang et Or qualify for the Champions League.
A 6ft 3in, right-footed centre-back, Danso reinforces a Tottenham defence that has been ravaged by injuries to Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Romero and Radu Dragusin, who is feared to have suffered a serious knee injury against Elfsborg in Thursday's 3-0 Europa League win.
Tottenham could still move for another centre-back after completing the signing of Danso and are believed to have made an approach for Chelsea's Axel Disasi, but Fikayo Tomori has chosen to stay at AC Milan despite the two clubs reaching a verbal agreement over a fee.
Ben Knapton
