Mathys Tel is set to join Tottenham Hotspur on loan after a whirlwind deadline-day saga saw the Bayern Munich forward change his stance on a move.
The 19-year-old had drawn interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, but both clubs failed to secure a deal.
Initially, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had traveled to Munich to finalize a £50 million permanent transfer, only for Tel to turn down the offer.
However, Sky Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg and Fabrizio Romano report that the teenager has now agreed to a loan move, with no option to buy.
This makes him Tottenham’s third January signing after Kevin Danso and Luka Vuskovic.
Speculation over Tel’s move intensified when his agent, Gadiri Camara, posted an Instagram photo of himself aboard an airplane with an egg timer emoji.
Sky Sports News later confirmed the flight was bound for London, with official confirmation of Tel’s arrival expected imminently. Romano also shared an image of Tel and Camara appearing in good spirits on a private jet.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl recently acknowledged Tel’s dissatisfaction with his limited playing time. “Mathys initially wanted to stay and fight for his place, but now he feels he needs to move,” Eberl explained.
With the transfer window closing, Bayern had to quickly assess what was best for both the player and the club.
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes Spurs fans may not welcome the move, given Tel’s earlier hesitation.
“As soon as they hear he didn’t want to join at first, they won’t be happy,” Merson told Sky Sports News. “It’s not embarrassing for Spurs—he’s coming from Bayern—but he needs to make sure it’s the right move for his career.”
Despite the drama, Tottenham have secured an exciting young talent, and fans will be eager to see how Tel adapts to the Premier League in the months ahead.