Tottenham Hotspur’s winter signing of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich was one of the most exciting moves of the window, but the deal includes an unusual clause that gives the player significant control over his future.
After initially striking a €60m/£55m deal with Bayern for Tel’s permanent transfer, Spurs faced a setback when the 18-year-old striker declined the move. However, Tottenham was persistent and eventually reached a compromise with Bayern and the player to bring him to North London.
Tel officially joined Tottenham on a six-month loan, and Spurs successfully inserted an option to buy into the agreement. The exact value of the option is disputed, with reports stating it is either €55m or €60m, but the key point is that the option exists.
Tel Holds Power to Reject Permanent Move
However, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, there’s more to the arrangement than just a loan and an option to buy. Plettenberg reported that an agreement between Tottenham and Tel ensures that the player has the final say on whether the club can activate the option to make the move permanent in the summer.
In essence, even if Tottenham wants to trigger the buy option, they cannot do so unless Tel personally approves it. If the player decides that a permanent transfer to Spurs is not in his best interest, he can veto the deal and Spurs will not be able to finalize the move.
Postecoglou’s Role in Tel’s Signing
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou played a significant role in convincing Tel to join the club. According to French reporter Julien Laurens, Postecoglou had a long conversation with the player and was instrumental in sealing the deal. Laurens wrote on X: “Huge role played by the Spurs manager to get one of the most coveted youngsters in Europe!”
Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge echoed this sentiment, praising Postecoglou for his efforts in securing one of the top young talents in European football.
