Tottenham Hotspur didn’t technically make a new signing on transfer deadline day but did strike rather fascinating deal.
The final day of the transfer window passed without much business being done at Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou’s major summer business was done well in advance of the deadline as Archie Gray and Dominic Solanke arrived.
Wilson Odobert proved to be Tottenham’s final signing of the window and there wasn’t much outgoing business either.
Giovani Lo Celso was the headline departure on deadline day, completing a return to former club Real Betis.
Few tears will be shed in North London over Lo Celso’s departure after five disappointing years on the Tottenham books but his exit has caused some intrigue.
Tottenham Hotspur deal confirmed
Reports on deadline day suggested that Tottenham took a lower fee for Lo Celso in order to strike an agreement with Betis.
The deal has included an agreement for Tottenham to essentially have first option on signing Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
Spurs can activate a deal to sign Cardoso down the line or take a percentage of the deal if he is sold elsewhere.
Tottenham clearly want some kind of stake in Cardoso’s future just months after he joined Betis from Internacional in Brazil.
Reports suggested that Tottenham were remaining ‘silent’ and refusing to confirm whether such an agreement for Cardoso existed.
Tottenham have nowhere to hide now though as Real Betis have confirmed that Tottenham have an option to sign Cardoso.
Betis president Angel Haro has told Estadio Deportivo that Tottenham have a purchase option between €25million and €30million (£21million and £25million).
Haro claims that a number of teams wanted to sign Cardoso but the option over his future has been ‘given’ to Tottenham.
“Johnny is a player who is of interest to many teams. It is a purchase option and we have given it to Tottenham for the amounts published,” said Haro.
Who is potential Tottenham signing Johnny Cardoso?
Cardoso was born in the United States but moved to Brazil with his family at the age of just three.
Cardoso spent time in the ranks with Criciuma and Avai in Brazil before joining Internacional.
That is where Cardoso became a first-team star, racking up nearly 150 appearances for the club whilst scoring seven goals.
Real Betis came calling in January 2024 and lured Cardoso to La Liga, where he has now made 23 appearances.
Cardoso qualified to play for Brazil but has already racked up 15 caps for the United States.