Tottenham Hotspur have not always succeeded in the transfer market, but some great players have been added to their squad over the years.
Here we take a look at Tottenham’s top five summer signings over the past decade:
5. Dejan Kulusevski – Juventus to Tottenham (£29.2m)
Despite making his Tottenham debut after signing in January, Kulusevski counts as a summer signing, as he joined permanently in June. There is a reason Spurs cut short his 18-month loan in order to secure him on a five-year contract. The Sweden international adapted quickly to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, bagging seven assists in the months he spent on loan.
Kulusevski has had his ups and downs since, with some supporters questioning his ability to play on the right wing, due to his lack of pace on the ball. However, he was Ange Postecoglou’s best player in the first half of last season, having taken up a role as an attacking-minded midfielder.
It remains to be seen how Thomas Frank will use Kulusevski, but the 25-year-old will be hoping he can regain some form and keep his spot in the first team.
4. Cristian Romero – Atalanta to Tottenham (£42.5m)
Romero is getting phone calls every day to lure him into a Spurs exit, with Diego Simeone eager to sign him for Atletico Madrid. However, Alasdair Gold has predicted Romero could remain at Spurs, as his hefty transfer fee could put clubs off making an acceptable offer.
We can only hope the World Cup-winning defender chooses to stay at Tottenham because he has been worth every penny since joining from Atalanta for £42.5m. He has been solid at the back with his aggressive defending and was even labelled as the best defender in the world by Lionel Messi.
Last season was far from easy for Romero, who experienced some injury struggles. Even when he was on the pitch, Spurs only kept two Premier League clean sheets. However, his time at Tottenham as a whole has been excellent and if he does leave this summer, he will be a difficult player to replace.
3. Micky van de Ven – Wolfsburg to Tottenham (£34.5m plus add-ons)
There is no one in football quite like Micky van de Ven. His athleticism and pace are perfect for a team which prefers an attacking style of football, because he can quickly track back to provide defensive cover. He is also an intelligent player, who knows how to beat an attacker.
Van de Ven was not cheap, joining Tottenham for around £43m including add-ons. However, he had never played in a UEFA club competition and only had two years of Bundesliga experience under his belt. The fact that he has been so good for Spurs, despite having a pretty bare CV on his arrival, is remarkable.
Let us not forget that his goal-line clearance was as important as Brennan Johnson’s goal in winning Tottenham the Europa League, so he has already done great things since arriving in North London.
The Dutchman’s style was well suited to Postecoglou’s philosophy, but he is so much more than just a speedy sprinter. He will continue to be an important player for Tottenham under Frank next season, regardless of how the new boss chooses to set up his team.
2. Toby Alderweireld Atletico Madrid to Tottenham (£11.5m)
Another centre-back! Alderweireld only just manages to make the list, having joined Tottenham ten years ago. He was part of a Spurs defensive line that can only be described as sensational. Tottenham had a brilliant attack under Mauricio Pochettino, but the defence was just as good.
Alderweireld’s partnership with Jan Vertonghen was one of the best the Lane ever saw and Spurs kept 69 Premier League clean sheets when he was on the pitch. As the Belgian made 200 appearances, this means Tottenham did not concede a goal in 34.5 per cent of league matches he played.
Alderweireld is undoubtedly one of Tottenham’s greatest summer signings of all time, just behind one man.
1. Heung-min Son Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham (£22m)
The 2015 summer transfer window was magnificent, as Tottenham not only signed Alderweireld but also their future club captain. Son was not unheard of when he arrived at Hotspur Way, but no one was aware of just how good he would be.
The former Bayer Leverkusen forward has delivered year after year for Spurs, whether playing as a striker or on the left wing. His partnership with Harry Kane is statistically the best in Premier League history, and even without Tottenham’s record goalscorer by his side, Son has registered 28 goals and 19 assists in the past two seasons.
Son’s future at Spurs may be uncertain, but his legacy at the club has already been secured. Heung-min Son is a Tottenham Hotspur legend!
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