Finally, Tottenham is back in the transfer mix after going crazy with TWO signings on a single day.
Leeds United’s teenage sensation Jack Clarke joined the club on an initial £8.5 million deal only to be loaned straight back to the Championship outfit but that was only a tiny part of the day’s action.
The Lilywhites smashed through their transfer record with the capture of 22-year-old Frenchman Tanguy Ndombele on a six-year-deal which could rise to £63 million.
Although there is now hardly breaking news, it did leave plenty of fans asking the question who is Ndombele? After all, he’s hardly a household name such as Gareth Bale or Antoine Greizmann (two players Spurs have been linked to at various times).
Fortunately, we thought we would take a look at the youngsters fledging career to date.
Where is he from?
France is the answer but in particular, a place called Longjumeau in the southern suburbs of Paris.
However, at the age of 14 he moved to Brittany to play for Guingcamp. Three seasons at the Northern French club and no contract was forth coming so he joined French third division side Amiens where he started to make a name for himself.
Making his mark
Ndombele had a slow start to life in the French third division but in soon started to fire during the 2016/17 season in which he made 30 appearances scoring twice as Amien’s earned promotion back to France’s top flight.
Ndombele’s energetic performances in the center of midfield for the Unicorns won him many admirers and Lyon soon came calling initially on a one-year loan deal in which after impressing in his first season, the Kids took the option to sign him permanently.
London calling
Tanguy Ndombele’s stock continued to rise last season after making 48 appearances in all competitions as Lyon finished third in Ligue 1.
But the accolades did not finish there as the 22-year-old made his debut for France in October as a substitute replacing Paul Pogba in a 2-2 draw with Iceland and made the Ligue 1 and Champions League team of the year.
Ndombele is not a prolific scorer having found the net just six times in his 132 club professional games to date but he does bring a toughness and energy that will be well suited to the Premier League.
Spur’s may have just found themselves the bargain of the century.