Tottenham Hotspur have secured the signing of promising forward Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich, with an option to make the move permanent for €55million (£45.7m; $56.9m). The 19-year-old French talent will don the No 11 shirt for Spurs, becoming their third signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and Austrian centre-back Kevin Danso.
The deal materialized despite Tel's initial reluctance to leave Bayern, where both Manchester United and Chelsea had previously expressed interest in acquiring his services. United had been particularly keen on a loan move, while Chelsea's interest predated the winter transfer window.
Tel's journey to prominence began at Bayern Munich in July 2022, when he transferred from French side Rennes. He quickly made history by becoming Bayern's youngest-ever goalscorer, surpassing Jamal Musiala's record with a goal in a 5-0 victory over Viktoria Cologne. Throughout his tenure with the Bavarian giants, Tel has demonstrated his scoring prowess with 16 goals and seven assists across 83 appearances.
The young striker joins fellow Bundesliga loanee Timo Werner in North London, who extended his stay from RB Leipzig until the end of the 2024-25 season. Tel's arrival comes at a crucial time for Spurs, who have been grappling with injuries to key attacking players including Werner, Brennan Johnson, and Wilson Odobert. While these players are expected to return soon according to head coach Ange Postecoglou, Dominic Solanke remains sidelined until March with a knee injury.
Tel's impressive track record speaks for itself, particularly his impact as a substitute in the early stages of the 2023-24 season, where he netted five goals in just 140 minutes of Bundesliga and Champions League action. Under Julian Nagelsmann's management, he showcased his potential with five league goals in 397 minutes, displaying remarkable confidence in taking on defenders and creating shooting opportunities.
The young forward continued his impressive form under Thomas Tuchel, scoring 10 goals across all competitions despite limited starting opportunities. However, his playing time has decreased under current manager Vincent Kompany, with only 462 minutes of action in the 2024-25 season.
Tel's most effective performances came when partnering with Alphonso Davies on the left flank, with the duo exchanging 88 passes during their Bundesliga campaign together, marking Tel's most productive partnership. While his move to Bayern from Rennes in 2022 presented challenges, including off-field adjustments and competition within the squad, his capabilities as a versatile inside forward remain undisputed.
