Time is up for Toby at Tottenham as transfer looks imminent

After six years with Tottenham Hotspur, it appears that Toby Alderweireld‘s departure is imminent as the Spurs rebuild gets good and truly underway. 

Juan Foyth likely would not have been my first, nor Toby Alderweireld my second transfer out of the defense at Tottenham, yet that appears to be the look of things at N17. Foyth’s deal was pre-determined when Villareal activated a purchase option after the Argentine’s successful loan last season. Alderweireld, on the other hand, has been a mainstay in the Tottenham defense for more than a half-decade and still has two years under contract with Tottenham. However, recent comments about leaving the Lilywhites likely hastened his departure and now it seems Toby is headed for Qatar.

Tottenham getting good money for Toby

According to Mike McGrath of the Telegraph, Tottenham is putting the finishing touches on a deal that would send the Belgian to Qatar to play with Al-Duhail. In a transfer worth an estimated £13 million, it would be a great bit of business for Spurs considering transfermarkt.com has Alderweireld worth closer to £9.

Someone had to move from the Spurs defense

Whether or not Foyth came back there was little doubt that there was likely to be some turnover, which may be significant, in the Tottenham defense. That Toby Alderweireld was one of the first to move should not be a surprise given the value of his name and status as a long-time Belgian international.

The football in the Qatar Stars League is undoubtedly a step down from the Premier League and not football in Belgium as he had stated his desire for publicly. However, Alderewiereld should expect to be paid handsomely for his time in Qatar where money is no object. So imminent is the move that Alderwierled, is even already in Qatar.

Toby did his part in his time at Tottenham

Toby’s best season with Spurs was likely his first, where he played all 38 Premier League matches and scored 4 goals not missing a minute in the league the entire 2015-16 season.

Altogether Toby played some 236 matches for Tottenham and was part of the team that went to the Champions League final. Alderweireld played all but 90 minutes of that entire Champions League campaign, missing the first match against Inter and playing the full 90 in all 12 other matches as part of that run.

If this truly is the end for Alderweireld and Spurs, just a year after Jan Vertonghen left the club, it truly is the end of an era, when Tottenham had a center-back pairing that could rival any in the world. As a defender Toby was top-notch and he was a world-class professional for the club. About all, we can really say is god-speed and good luck Toby, it was our pleasure!