Tottenham Hotspur had, unequivocally, a successful summer 2025 transfer window. Now, it may not feel like that to everyone who follows the club, because the disappointment of missing out on players like Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White in such heartbreaking fashion - not to mention missed opportunities for footballers like Ademola Lookman and Rayan Cherki - is fresh in people's minds.
But if you told Tottenham supporters, even before the bitter pill of watching Ange Postecoglou leave, that Spurs would sign Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Randal Kolo Muani, and Mathys Tel permanently this summer, they would have gladly donated an organ for that. And oh by the way, Thomas Frank has turned out to be just as personable as Big Ange while being much, much better tactically. So that's another win for Spurs.
The experts over at The Athletic seem to think that Tottenham Hotspur did a fine job in the summer transfer window, too, so much so that one of their signings was ranked first out of everyone as the best bit of business of the market in the entire Premier League.
And that player wasn't the first, second, or third most expensive transfer by Tottenham. No, Joao Palhinha, the defensive midfielder brought back to the Premier League on loan from Bayern Munich, was ranked as the best transfer of the summer window. Palhinha beat out teammates Kudus and Simons, as well as much more ballyhooed summer transfers like Liverpool's trio of Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak, as well as all the blockbuster deals London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea registered this summer.
Tottenham paid nothing for a big upgrade
It's honestly easy to see why The Athletic would praise the Palhinha move so much. Although Tottenham can sign him permanently from Bayern for a reasonable 30 million euros, the sweetener is the fact that it is only an option. For one year, Tottenham, with no obligation, get one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League and filled out their most vital need with a proven player in this league.
Palhinha has already paid dividends, too, shining against two of the biggest clubs in the world, PSG and Manchester City. The Portuguese international is going to win Tottenham games this season compared to last season because of the defensive solidity and work rate he brings to this side.
When you consider that he isn't even one of the two best overall players Tottenham brought in this summer, it really does look like a great window for Spurs fans on paper. And it's great to see Spurs getting some praise for a change.