Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the loan signing of Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel with an option to buy in the summer.
The Lilywhites' option to make Tel's stay permanent is believed to be set at around £45.9m, and the former Rennes attacker will don the number 11 shirt during his time in North London.
The last Spurs player to sport that jersey was Bryan Gil - currently on loan at Girona - while Gary Lineker, Rafael Van der Vaart, Erik Lamela and Gareth Bale have also worn the '11' down the years.
Tel becomes Tottenham's third and in all likelihood last arrival of the January transfer window, following Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and on-loan Lens centre-back Kevin Danso to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Should Spurs activate their option to sign Tel permanently this summer, he will reportedly sign a six-year contract with Ange Postecoglou's side until the end of the 2030-31 campaign.
The 2005-born prospect has amassed a total of 16 goals and seven assists in 83 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions, but he only banked one assist in 14 games during the first half of the 2023-24 campaign.
How the turbulent Tel transfer saga unfolded
© Imago
No doubt the most absorbing deadline day saga of the January window, Tel sparked a transfer frenzy when it was revealed that the 19-year-old had communicated his wish to leave the Allianz Arena this month.
Amid competition from Arsenal and Manchester United, Tottenham were understood to have made the first move, as Daniel Levy flew out to Munich to hold face-to-face talks with Tel and his entourage.
The Tottenham chairman failed to sell the Spurs project to the young Frenchman during that meeting, though, and a two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester United was seemingly inevitable.
True enough, Man United did firm up their interest, but after being told by Bayern that they would have to stump up a £5m loan fee to take Tel for the remainder of the season, the Red Devils quickly backed out.
Arsenal - despite the severe injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus - did not take advantage of the opening, leaving Tel in the situation where he may have had to accept fleeting minutes at Bayern Munich for the remainder of the campaign.
However, the 19-year-old was then charmed by Spurs boss Postecoglou and performed a dramatic U-turn, eventually flying to the UK on Monday to complete his medical and sign his Tottenham contract.
When could Tel make his debut for Tottenham?
He's here. Tel a friend 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/b9ELdatWar
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 3, 2025
Tottenham have confirmed that Tel is still awaiting a work permit before he can make his debut for the club, meaning that he is not certain to be available for Thursday's EFL Cup semi-final second leg with Liverpool.
However, the Frenchman should have been cleared to make his first appearance by the time Tottenham meet Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday; failing that, he could earn his baptism against former admirers Manchester United in the Premier League on February 16.
Ben Knapton
