Dominic Solanke has completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur in a £65million deal from Bournemouth. He has signed a six-year contract with the north London club.
The deal is a club record transfer fee for Spurs and a record sale for Bournemouth.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League transfers in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100 to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all transfers will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this move.
Get the latest transfer news on The Athletic…
Transfer news and analysis | Follow David Ornstein
Join The Athletic Insiders WhatsApp channel
Sign up for The Athletic FC newsletter
Tactical fit — 71/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Dominic Solanke is a striker capable of being the focal point of Tottenham’s attack for the next few seasons. At 26 years old, he is entering his prime and last season added improved finishing to his existing gifts of clever movement and pressing.
He possesses a powerful shot and a wide range of finishes, from striking the ball cleanly through the laces to executing clever flicks. His intelligent movement off the ball allows him to exploit spaces left by defenders, particularly by finishing near-post crosses.
Solanke had a strong 2023-24, showing he can score goals in the top flight with both feet and his head. Many of his shots are high-quality and last season he converted at a rate close to what is expected from his chances.
Solanke’s pressing is arguably his biggest strength. He understands how to curve his runs to limit passing options for opposing centre-backs and is adept at shadowing the opposition’s holding midfielder. When his side’s pressing trigger is activated, Solanke closes down opponents with aggression and intensity, while also serving as a dangerous outlet during turnovers.
Here, in Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw against Newcastle in February, Solanke anticipates Sean Longstaff’s pass back to Sven Botman. Solanke arches his run to prevent Botman from passing it to Dan Burn. In a moment of panic, Lascelles passes to Martin Dubravka, and Solanke increases his pressing intensity. Dubravka slips, leaving Solanke with an easy goal.
Solanke’s link-up play is something Ange Postecoglou will appreciate. He has shown great capability in holding up the ball, allowing runners like Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert to exploit spaces. This ability could also be replicated with players like Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson or Timo Werner, all of whom excel at making runs into those openings.
Despite his obvious strengths, Solanke’s goalscoring record has been inconsistent. 2023-24 saw him score more than 10 goals in a Premier League season for the first time, raising questions about whether this is a legitimate improvement or an anomaly. The transition to a bigger club like Tottenham brings increased expectations, and it remains to be seen if he can thrive under pressure.
Solanke’s tactical fit at Tottenham Hotspur is rated at 71, reflecting his compatibility with the team’s playing style and formation. He has experience in a 4-2-3-1 setup, used frequently by Spurs. Small adjustments will be necessary, but his pressing ability, off-ball movement, and link-up play align with Tottenham’s attacking patterns.
Crucially, Solanke can fit into Ange Postecoglou’s tactical plans in several ways. He can play as the central forward or drop deeper, providing flexibility in attacking movements. This adaptability suits Postecoglou’s preference for fluid, dynamic forward play. Additionally, Solanke’s ability to connect with midfielders and wingers should help with the team’s attacking rotations, while his work rate complements Postecoglou’s high press.
Gillian Kasirye
Gaming rating — 73/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
Solanke is edging closer to his prime, according to Football Manager. Their data is powered by an extensive scouting network, one that is used within sport, and they suggest a current ability rating of 141 out of a possible 200. For context, that is similar to Scott McTominay (141) and Harvey Barnes (140), who are of a similar age, and Everton’s Beto (140), another Premier League striker.
His potential ability rating is 150, which indicates that he does not have too much room for improvement but attaining that level will cement his status as an effective top-flight striker. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (150) and Lucas Paqueta (150) are players with a current ability at that level, and so too is Ivan Toney.
A comparison with the Brentford striker is interesting as they play for similar-calibre clubs and are not far apart in terms of their influence on their teams. Toney is one year older and has a slight edge on the potential front: his potential ability rating is 155, according to the FM data.
Peter Rutzler
Season rating — 70/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team
Solanke had an excellent season on the south coast in 2023-24, scoring 19 goals and providing three assists. This was a significant improvement from 13 goal involvements (six goals, seven assists) in 2022-23.
In December, Solanke scored his first senior hat-trick in a thrilling 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest. Following a remarkable run in December, where he scored six goals in seven matches, he was named the Premier League Player of the Month — the first Bournemouth player to achieve this honour.
The gamble for Spurs is whether Solanke’s standout 2023-24 was evidence of a new high ceiling for the striker or a one-off campaign that he will struggle to repeat. The north London club have decided that it was the former.
Gillian Kasirye
Financial value rating — 57/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value – 13/25
The £65million spent on Solanke will be among the biggest deals of the Premier League summer and a significant commitment on a player unable to command a place in England’s plans. One prolific season in the top flight with Bournemouth has transformed perceptions and value.
Squad cost – 14/25
Tottenham, traditionally frugal, do not often spend as lavishly on one player and this transfer will be the one Ange Postecoglou hopes has a huge impact on his team’s attacking fortunes. Spurs still have work to do in the window and will be open to the prospect of sales to help offset this.
Contract sensibility – 16/25
Solanke’s six-year contract was inevitable for a signing costing so much, rewarding the player for his rising stock and offering Tottenham protection on such a heavy outlay. Likely to join the club’s highest earners this season, making the overall transfer package a huge outlay.
Resale value – 14/25
Solanke will turn 27 next month and, in theory, is about to hit the peak of his powers. Bournemouth have tripled their outlay in the last five years but it is difficult to see Tottenham doing the same given Solanke will be almost 33 at the end of this deal. The forward’s pedigree will likely ensure value holds, though.
Philip Buckingham
Risk or reward? — 70/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up in the future and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Dominic Solanke burst onto the scene at an early age at Chelsea but it has required time and patience to reach his level today. That development process has served him well. Now, at 26, he is an established Premier League striker, capable of scoring 19 league goals in a mid-table team. He has also become more complete; capable of linking the play, creating chances for himself and others, as well as pressing aggressively. He is an attractive signing.
His Premier League credentials limit the risks. He does not have a troublesome injury history either, with only a couple of notable injury absences in the past four years (ankle and knee knocks) that did not keep him out for more than 10 games collectively. As a character too, he is highly regarded at Bournemouth.
Tottenham are yet to truly fill the void left by Harry Kane and so there is a clear place for him in their team. It is not a cheap outlay, though his fee is not majorly overpriced for a homegrown striker with England caps, certainly when Ivan Toney has been touted for fees close to nine figures.
Of course, he has just the one strong season in the Premier League and there is limited scope for re-sale. There is the slight unknown too regarding how he will cope again at a bigger club, having not established himself at Chelsea and Liverpool. But he knows the pressures they entail, and it does seem like the right time for him to step up again.
Peter Rutzler
Overall rating: 341/500