Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of centre-back Kevin Danso on a loan deal from Ligue 1 side Lens for the rest of the season with an obligation to buy.
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Tactical fit — 32/50
In possession, Danso is confident in bringing the ball forward, with his 1.4 carries into the final third per 90 ranking him among the top five per cent of Ligue 1 centre-backs this season. He can occasionally be careless in possession, but there are benefits to be gained from his carrying.
Similarly, Danso’s ball-playing ability is decent, but the Austria international prefers safer options rather than line-breaking passes on the ground. He has displayed an affinity for long passes over the top during his time at Lens, though accuracy has previously posed issues. He can also commit mistakes under pressure.
Defensively, Danso has experience playing in high lines under Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton and Manuel Baum at Augsburg, but Ange Postecoglou’s system will require adjustments given just how advanced the defenders tend to be. Danso is not a reactive tackler, preferring instead to use his body positioning to intercept passes, which should bring some calm to an at-times chaotic Spurs system. He boasts decent recovery pace, too.
At 6ft 2in (190cm), Danso is taller than Cristian Romero but shorter than Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin. He has won 66 per cent of his aerial duels in Ligue 1 this season, which should help a Spurs team struggling from set pieces and recording an aerial duel success of 49 per cent in the Premier League this season (13th best). On the flip side, he tends to give away fouls, at times unnecessarily.
Danso brings positional versatility, too, having played in back-three and back-four systems throughout his career.
Injury record — 20/50
Danso’s injury record should be a cause for concern given Spurs’ existing issues.
Since the 2017-18 season, he has suffered multiple injuries to his ankle and adductor (including once each in 2023-24), resulting in spells on the sidelines for varying periods.
Market value — 32/50
A loan deal until the end of the season is reasonable for a player with Premier League experience, especially given Spurs’ lack of options in central defence. The insertion of an obligation to buy suggests Spurs have agreed a fee they deem fit for a player whose contract with Lens was set to run out in 2027.
Contract rationale — 30/50
The obligation to buy Danso means Spurs do not have a failsafe if this move does not go to plan, but at 26, Danso is entering his peak years and if he stays fit, this could prove to be a smart squad signing.
Recent form — 27/50
Danso has featured in just 14 matches across competitions this season, but he did help Lens start the Ligue 1 season with wins and clean sheets against Angers and Brest. His next 10 league games brought five wins, four losses and three more clean sheets, with Lens currently sixth in the standings.
Gap-filling — 35/50
Tottenham’s injury issues made a centre-back signing imperative. Danso may be expected to start immediately alongside Van de Ven when he returns fully, with Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin both out injured.
His own injury history will cause concern, though, and if Danso misses time over the remaining months of the season, this move will raise questions.
Excitement factor — 26/50
Danso may not be a huge name, but Spurs and their fans desperately needed a signing given how stretched their squad has been for the past few months. Danso’s arrival so close to the deadline will be met with cautious optimism.
Future-proofing — 33/50
Despite it being a loan, the obligation to buy suggests it has been made with an eye on the long term. If Danso matches or exceeds expectations without missing too much time to injury, this will be viewed as a shrewd piece of business.
Rival impact — 30/50
Danso was the subject of intense interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and, as The Athletic revealed, was due to have a medical with them before joining Spurs. Given Wolves are in need of centre-back reinforcements themselves, they will be disappointed.
Spurs’ traditional rivals higher up the table are unlikely to be too concerned.
Marketability — 10/50
Spurs fans will be happy to have a centre-back in, but Danso is unlikely to move the needle much for the club’s marketing team otherwise.