Toby Alderweireld has signed a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur, the club have confirmed.
What’s the word?
The Belgium international has committed to a four-year deal that will run until 2023.
Spurs have been in talks with Alderweireld for some time and there was a fear at the club, per sources, that he could leave for nothing in the summer.
Indeed, when the club activated his contract extension option in 2018, they also triggered a clause in his contract that would have allowed him to depart for £25m had a bid of such value been received.
That did not happen but those within the club feared that he would be deemed a more valuable asset as an acquisition without a transfer fee attached.
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However, that has now been put to bed, with Alderweireld finally committing his future to the club under Jose Mourinho.
“I’m very, very happy,” Alderweireld said.
“I think no words can describe another couple of years here at Spurs.
“There’s no place I can be happier. I’m honoured to play for this club and I’m a small piece of getting to the next level in a couple of seasons. I think this is just the beginning of something big and exciting.
“I’m very lucky to have a very good connection with the fans and club. I couldn’t see myself playing for another team.”
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Mourinho’s first major move
The Portuguese has pulled off something of a masterstroke here.
There were very few indications that Alderweireld was willing to stay while Mauricio Pochettino was manager, with sources suggesting that the Argentine was willing to move the 30-year-old on.
A bid would have been accepted in either of the last two summer transfer windows had it met his specifications, per those familiar with the club’s recruitment.
However, Mourinho, who wanted to sign Alderweireld while he was Manchester United manager, has convinced the centre-back to put pen to paper.
He has been an integral member of the Spurs squad for some time, making 179 appearances in total and playing a key role in their run to the Champions League final last season.
It is a major commitment to give a 30-year-old a deal for such a period of time but one has to feel that this is an incredible win for the Spurs boss.
Meanwhile, Football FanCast has learned of Spurs’ ideal scenario if Christian Eriksen leaves this summer.
