Tottenham Begin Post-Son Era with Kudus and Simons
Tottenham Hotspur finished the summer transfer window with a net spend of £-129.2 million, ushering in the Thomas Frank era with a wave of new arrivals while bidding farewell to one of the club’s greatest-ever players, Son Heung-min.
The headline signing was Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United for £54.5m. The Ghanaian winger described the move as a “big moment” in his career and vowed to excite Spurs supporters. Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, secured from RB Leipzig for £51.8m, committed long term and has promised to bring flair and discipline to Frank’s midfield. French forward Mathys Tel made his stay permanent after a promising loan, joining for £30m, while Kevin Danso’s obligatory £21m deal was completed after his loan spell from Lens. Teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic, first signed back in 2023, finally linked up with the squad, while highly rated Japanese defender Kota Takai arrived from Kawasaki Frontale for £5m. Spurs also added depth with Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG and João Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich, the Portuguese midfielder returning to the Premier League with an option to buy.
The departures were headlined by Son Heung-min’s emotional exit to Los Angeles FC. The South Korean forward leaves north London after 10 years, 454 games, and 173 goals, sealing a record deal for an MLS club. Midfielder Pierre-Émile Højbjerg joined Marseille for £17m after excelling on loan, and Bryan Gil made a permanent £8.6m move to Girona. Timo Werner’s spell ended with his return to RB Leipzig, while veteran players Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilón, and Alfie Whiteman all departed as free agents. A wave of academy talents also left on loan, including Mikey Moore to Rangers, Ashley Phillips to Stoke, Alfie Dorrington to Aberdeen, and Damola Ajayi to Doncaster, while Alejo Véliz returned to Rosario Central in Argentina.
This summer marks a fresh start under Frank: youthful talent and creative flair have been added, but the challenge will be filling the leadership and attacking void left by Son’s departure. The season ahead promises to define how quickly Spurs can turn heavy investment into success.
