Yves Bissouma says he is looking forward to getting started at Tottenham under Antonio Conte after joining the club from Brighton.
The Mali international joined the club today on a four-year contract in a deal worth an initial £25 million that is expected to rise to more than £30 million with add-ons (Evening Standard).
He becomes Spurs’ third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster on respective free transfers.
Reflecting on his move to North London, Bissouma signalled his excitement to play in the Champions League under the guidance of a decorated coach in Antonio Conte.
He told the official Tottenham YouTube channel: “I was born in the Ivory Coast in my dad’s village. When I was young, football was just my life. I wanted to play football every day, every moment. If I don’t play football, I’m not happy. Now to play football as a professional, and to be at Spurs, a big club.
“In Africa, we don’t have the opportunity like here. For example, for me when I was younger, my dad and my mum, they just worked to help us, but if you want to play football, they don’t have the money to buy you footballs or shoes. So we were just playing on the street with friends with no shoes.
“But we enjoyed this moment because I was young. One part of my life I was happy for because the memory… I just think, I’ve come so far.
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“London, Spurs, and Champions League music, in my dreams. I just say thank you to God. It was my dream to play Champions League when I was younger and I remember watching Champions League every day. I can’t believe I’m going to play in the Champions League with Spurs.
“Thank you to my mum, my dad, and family, thank you to everyone, and thank you to Spurs as well.
“I am going to try to help the team. We have a good group and good coach as well. He is a great coach, everyone knows him. I can [step up] with him. I know he is going to help me more, to be what I want to be. I am very happy to play for him.
“I am going to give everything to try to win every game and to stay at the top. But everyone knows the Premier League is not easy. You have got to work really hard to keep the ambition high.
“I am very happy to be here, it is a great club. I am happy to be a Spurs player and hopefully we are going to have a good season.”
Spurs were interested in signing Bissouma in the January transfer window (ESPN) but were unable to advance their claims.
The 25-year-old made 124 appearances across four seasons at Brighton, while he made 26 Premier League starts last term (Transfermarkt) as they secured their highest ever finish.
Spurs Web Opinion
Bissouma is clearly excited to get started at Spurs and play in the Champions League and that mirrors how the supporters are currently feeling too.
He should be a great addition to the squad and provide a different dimension in midfield and hopefully, he is able to continue his excellent displays over the last couple of seasons in a Spurs shirt.
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