‘Why is he going to Spurs?’ – Troy Deeney accuses Tottenham of spending £237m on ‘bang average’ players

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Troy Deeney has questioned why players continue to join Tottenham Hotspur after Mateus Fernandes became the club’s latest signing, despite Spurs’ struggles last season.

There has been a clear show of ambition from Tottenham Hotspur so far this summer transfer window following their dismal Premier League campaign last season, where they finished in 17th place after narrowly avoiding relegation.

Still, Spurs have been able to flex some of their financial muscle, completing three big signings so far this summer.

Jan Paul van Hecke and Mateus Fernandes have now been confirmed as Tottenham players after the club splashed a whopping £137 million in transfer fees for the pair, with both costing £52 million and £85 million respectively.

Another big-money move remains very close to being confirmed after Tottenham reached a mammoth £100 million (€118m) deal with Newcastle United for Sandro Tonali.

The signing of the Italian would take Spurs’ summer expenditure to £237 million after six signings. Of course, these deals come after Tottenham agreed free transfers for Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.

Troy Deeney questions Tottenham signings

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney, speaking to talkSPORT, has now openly criticised Tottenham and their transfer business so far this summer.

The ex-Watford forward admitted he cannot understand how Spurs are able to attract players despite their poor league finish, while also questioning the calibre of the signings made.

Deeney pointed to Fernandes’ recent struggles, saying: “Fernandes £85 million – he has been relegated last season and he got relegated the season before, so back-to-back relegations, and he is going to come in and what, change your mentality?

“One thing about getting relegated is you get used to losing. If you do that for one season, okay fair enough, it is a bad year. You have done that back-to-back seasons, now he is going to come in and change the mentality? I do not think so.”

On Van Hecke, Robertson and Senesi, Deeney added: “Van Hecke – decent, solid player. Why is he going to Spurs? Why is Spurs the team? If he is a top-six player, why is he not going to any of these top-six clubs? Andy Robertson – love Andy Robertson, been fantastic, he is going in to add leadership qualities and all that, but not the player he once was.

“The boy Senesi from Bournemouth – you have got a free transfer, the whole market is yours, you land at Spurs. I am sorry but I am not really blown away by this.”

On whether he is baffled by why players are picking Tottenham as their destination, he concluded: “But it is what Spurs do all the time. They buy bang average players at over-inflated prices and they tell you that it is good.”

Troy Deeney’s Spurs transfer criticism does not tell the full story

While Deeney is within his rights to question Spurs’ business, he does seem out of touch with the reality of the transfer market in recent seasons.

Tottenham are, in fact, one of the last clubs that could be accused of consistently paying inflated prices for players.

Before the signings of both Tonali and Fernandes, Spurs’ record signing was Dominic Solanke, whom they paid £65 million for back in 2024.

The Lilywhites have also long had a wage structure that capped their highest earners at £200,000 a week, making them far from the ideal destination for top players.

For context, Manchester City’s winter acquisition of Antoine Semenyo, where they paid £65 million for the winger, had long stood as Tottenham’s record signing.

Other clubs in the big six have made it a habit to splash the cash, with many completing several deals well above £80 million in the last decade.

The recent signing of Fernandes has now placed Spurs inside the top ten of the most expensive Premier League signings in history.

Most expensive Premier League signings

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