Mathys Tel joins Tottenham on initial loan deal in dramatic U-turn

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel on loan with an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.

The move was initially expected to be a straight loan, but in the final hours of the window, Spurs successfully negotiated with Bayern to insert a clause to potentially make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

The deal sees Tel complete a dramatic deadline day U-turn by agreeing to join Spurs after sources told ESPN he stalled over a move to the club last week.

Spurs had agreed to a €60 million ($62m) deal for Tel on Friday, but he was unsure about making a permanent move. Talks then switched to a loan so Spurs could get their man and Tel could review his options in the summer.

But sources told ESPN that Tel decided to join Spurs until at least the end of the season after conversations with head coach Ange Postecoglou.

“We are delighted to announce the signing of Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich, subject to international clearance and work permit,” Spurs said in a statement.

“The France Under-21 international will join the Club on loan until the end of the 2024-25 season with an option to make the move permanent in the summer. He will wear the No. 11 shirt.”

Tel’s decision to express a desire to leave Bayern Munich over a lack of game time — having joined the club for around €28 million ($29m) from Rennes in 2022 — sparked interest from a number of clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal, but Spurs appear to have won the race to sign the highly rated France under-21 international.

Meanwhile, Spurs had an offer for England defender Marc Guéhi rejected by Crystal Palace last weekend, a source has told ESPN.

Spurs made an offer for the 24-year-old which was dismissed, and the north London club has not returned with an improved bid ahead of tonight’s deadline.

Tel is Spurs’ third signing of the window following the arrivals of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and centre-back Kevin Danso.

Postecoglou has been keen to add players to his squad after a combination of injuries and poor form have left the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table. Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Dominic Solanke are all currently sidelined for Tottenham.

However, Spurs have experienced more success in cup competitions and take a 1-0 aggregate lead into their Carabao Cup semifinal second-leg clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday.

Information from ESPN’s Julien Laurens contributed to this story